for Western Flower Thrips and preventative measures must be taken in order to insure healthy plants. Although Wester Flower Thrips were at one time only a pest across the western United States and Canada, their spread has now reached worldwide. They are now considered to be the most serious pest for floricultural plants across much of the world. Females lay anywhere from 150 to 300 eggs during their lifetime, with each offspring having a life of roughly 28 days. The majority of their lives are spent in their adult stage. Importance The spread of INSV can be achieved easily through the importation of infected plants. This has been demonstrated in 1991 by its sudden emergence in Portugal, where it was discovered in over 30 plant species. Because of their preference for hidden away living spaces they often travel undetected globally. By raising Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays against the nucleoproteins of symptomatic species, eight isolates have been identified in Italian vegetable and ornamental crops alone. By providing favorable year round conditions, greenhouses allow INSV carrying Western Flower Thrips a permanent residence unless eradicated. INSV can attack 648 different species, being the number one disease in gloxinia and impatiens, and has numerous symptoms often making diagnosis more difficult. Symptoms of Impatiens necrotic spot virus in an Orchid species References Louro, D. 1996. DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS AND IMPATIENS NECROTIC SPOT VIRUS IN PORTUGAL. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 431:99-108 (1) VAIRA, A. M., ROGGERO, P., LUISONI, E., MASENGA, V., MILNE, R. G. and LISA, V. (1993), Characterization of two Tospoviruses in Italy: tomato spotted wilt and impatiens necrotic spot. Plant Pathology, 42: 530–542. (2) DeAngelis, J. D., Sether, D. M., and Rossignol, P. A. 1994. Transmission of Impatiens necrotic spot virus in peppermint by western flower thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 87:197-201. (3) External links ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database: Impatiens necrotic spot virus Family Groups - The Baltimore Method - Management of INSV Tospoviridae Viral plant pathogens and diseases