Western flower thrips found in cut flower imports in Russia’s Far East

Phytosanitary laboratories in Russia’s Far East have reported new detections of western flower thrips in imported cut flowers from China.

In the Khabarovsk region, the quarantine pest was confirmed in part of fresh-cut flower shipments involving more than 31,000 stems. Since the start of 2026, the regional laboratory has tested more than 5.1 million cut flowers and confirmed 171 cases of quarantine organism contamination. The findings were reported to Rosselkhoznadzor.

In the Primorsky region, western flower thrips were also confirmed in two flower consignments. The shipments totaled nearly 123,000 stems and more than 119,000 stems. The pest was found in 15,400 stems of spray carnation, stock and sunflower in one consignment, and in 20,100 stems of spray chrysanthemum and gypsophila in the second.

The infected parts of the consignments were barred from import and will be destroyed under official supervision. Since the start of 2026, the Primorsky region has recorded 69 detections of western flower thrips in imported products.

Separately, in Buryatia, flower and ornamental greenery shipments were cleared after inspection. From July 1 to 7, authorities checked 98,000 stems of cut flowers, including roses, gladiolus, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, spray carnations, eustoma, stock and daisies, along with eucalyptus, limonium and gypsophila. From January 1 to July 14, more than 570,000 units of live flowers and potted plants were imported into the region. This included a shipment of 110,000 cut flowers and ornamental greens, comprising 18 rose varieties, chrysanthemums, carnations, lilies, ornamental sunflowers, gypsophila, eucalyptus leaves, limonium, matricaria, molucella, aspidistra, fatsia, pistachio and ruscus. Laboratory testing found no quarantine pests in these consignments.

Source: fsvps.gov.ru