Thrips Parvispinus is causing significant damage to pepper crops in El Ejido and raising concern in other plantings, according to the municipal account of a meeting with local irrigators. The pest can damage plants and fruit. Its immature stages may also shelter within plant structures, complicating control efforts.
Mayor Julia Ibáñez met the Comunidad de Regantes ‘Los Aljibillos’ with councillors José Francisco Rivera and Elena Gómez. The community’s president, Paco Fernández, attended, along with vice-president Pepe Fuentes and board member Juan Manuel Cuadrado.
Ibáñez criticised the Spanish Government’s decision to deny exceptional authorisation for Movento (spirotetramat). The Junta de Andalucía communicated the rejection of its request for greenhouse peppers on 27 October 2026. According to the municipal account, the product can be used exceptionally in France, Italy and Portugal. Italy’s Ministry of Health issued a temporary authorisation for Movento 48 SC, which contains spirotetramat, for 120 days, from 1 April to 29 July 2026. It covered specified crops and pests, and was separate from Spain’s decision. A previous report on biological control covered Koppert’s assessment of A. limonicus against the pest.
The mayor said the council had coordinated its response for months with farmers and agricultural organisations, businesses, technical staff and representatives of the Junta de Andalucía. The regional plant-health expert table has called for an exceptional active substance, alongside biological control and broader integrated pest management. The municipality has also increased rural inspections after farmers reported possible breaches of crop-clearance protocols.
The community has operated in the municipality since 1990, capturing and distributing irrigation water in the Paraje de los Aljibillos. At the meeting, participants discussed water management and availability, including the need to expand the capacity of the Campo de Dalías desalination plant to meet agriculture’s current and future needs.
After the rejection, Andalusian PSOE parliamentarian José Nicolás Ayala said the ministry was working on a possible authorisation for sulfoxaflor. He said it “podría recibir autorización en los próximos días”. The alternative was under consideration while Movento remained unavailable in Spain for this use.
