Taitung Custard Apple Pollination Season: Thrips Activity Surges, Experts Urge Farmers to Prevent Pests
With rising temperatures and scarce rainfall in Taitung, the pollination season for custard apples is experiencing a surge in yellow thrips infestations. Experts are urging farmers to intensify orchard inspections and pest prevention efforts. The period from April to May is identified as the peak season for thrips damage, emphasizing the importance of early prevention during budding or before pollination.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 11:05
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 11:31 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 20:41 (9h 10m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Lu Tai-cheng, Taitung County, 1st) Recently, Taitung has seen rising temperatures and dry, scarce rainfall, which is the peak season for yellow thrips infestations on custard apples during their pollination period. Experts are urging farmers to strengthen orchard inspections and prevention efforts.
Currently, it is the flowering and pollination period for Taitung's large-eyed custard apples, coinciding with dry and scarce rainfall. Some farmers have observed thrips damage on young custard apple shoots.
The Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Ministry of Agriculture informed Central News Agency reporters today that yellow thrips are small and highly active. They can move short distances by jumping or migrate long distances with wind and airflow. Adult females lay eggs in young custard apple tissues using an ovipositor, and the hatched larvae feed on these young tissues. During the pupal stage, they drop to the soil surface to pupate.
The Taitung Agricultural Research and Extension Station stated that adult and larval yellow thrips primarily damage young tissues such as new shoots, flower organs, and young fruits of custard apples, causing affected young buds to curl, deform, and show localized black-brown discoloration. During the flowering and fruiting period, they move to damage flower organs and young fruits, leading to poor flower development and irregular brown scarred patches on the fruit surface, affecting the fruit's appearance.
Field surveys and monitoring results over the past five years by the Taitung Agricultural Research and Extension Station indicate that April to May is the peak period for yellow thrips occurrence. To prevent thrips damage and its impact on fruit appearance, farmers are urged to implement control measures during the budding period or before pollination. Recommended control methods include improving orchard ventilation and monitoring pest density.
The Taitung Agricultural Research and Extension Station emphasized that custard apples are an important economic fruit tree in Taitung, and the appearance of the fruit directly affects market competitiveness. Farmers should pay attention to pest monitoring and timely control. For related control issues, farmers can consult the Plant Protection Research Office at the farm (telephone 089-325015). (Edited by Chen Ren-hua) 1150501
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(Central News Agency reporter Lu Tai-cheng, Taitung County, 1st) Recently, Taitung has seen rising temperatures and dry, scarce rainfall, which is the peak season for yellow thrips infestations on custard apples during their pollination period. Experts are urging farmers to strengthen orchard inspections and prevention efforts.
Currently, it is the flowering and pollination period for Taitung's large-eyed custard apples, coinciding with dry and scarce rainfall. Some farmers have observed thrips damage on young custard apple shoots.
The Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station of the Ministry of Agriculture informed Central News Agency reporters today that yellow thrips are small and highly active. They can move short distances by jumping or migrate long distances with wind and airflow. Adult females lay eggs in young custard apple tissues using an ovipositor, and the hatched larvae feed on these young tissues. During the pupal stage, they drop to the soil surface to pupate.
The Taitung Agricultural Research and Extension Station stated that adult and larval yellow thrips primarily damage young tissues such as new shoots, flower organs, and young fruits of custard apples, causing affected young buds to curl, deform, and show localized black-brown discoloration. During the flowering and fruiting period, they move to damage flower organs and young fruits, leading to poor flower development and irregular brown scarred patches on the fruit surface, affecting the fruit's appearance.
Field surveys and monitoring results over the past five years by the Taitung Agricultural Research and Extension Station indicate that April to May is the peak period for yellow thrips occurrence. To prevent thrips damage and its impact on fruit appearance, farmers are urged to implement control measures during the budding period or before pollination. Recommended control methods include improving orchard ventilation and monitoring pest density.
The Taitung Agricultural Research and Extension Station emphasized that custard apples are an important economic fruit tree in Taitung, and the appearance of the fruit directly affects market competitiveness. Farmers should pay attention to pest monitoring and timely control. For related control issues, farmers can consult the Plant Protection Research Office at the farm (telephone 089-325015). (Edited by Chen Ren-hua) 1150501
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.