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Title: Control of Frankliniella occidentalis with foliar insecticides, 2014

Author
item KUMAR, VIVEK - University Of Florida
item McKenzie, Cindy
item OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Arthropod Management Tests
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2015
Publication Date: 9/1/2015
Citation: Kumar, V., McKenzie, C.L., Osborne, L.S. 2015. Control of Frankliniella occidentalis with foliar insecticides, 2014. Arthropod Management Tests. 40:G6, 2pp. 2015. (Report).

Interpretive Summary: Western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande is an economic pest of outdoor crops, greenhouse vegetable, and flower crops throughout the world. The current study was conducted with an objective to evaluate certain insecticides against this serious pest of horticultural and nursery production in Florida. Results showed that Overture was more effective on immature and adults of Frankliniella occidentalis (F. occidentalis) compared to other treatments. Epimek and Spintor also provided significant suppression in pest population compared to untreated control. Movento was found to be least effective against F. occidentalis life stages.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of selected chemical insecticides against a western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, in ornamental pepper under greenhouse condition. The trial was conducted at United States Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida in hope to find an alternative to standard effective chemistries used in thrips control. Frankliniella occidentalis (F. occidentalis) population varied greatly, however significant reduction in thrips number were observed in all the treatments compared to control. Overall, Overture was found to be most effective in controlling Western flower thrips (WFT) population (larvae and adults), decimating the thrips population to 100% towards the end of the study. Overture showed consistent result in regulating WFT larvae and no thrips larvae was reported from this treatment on any of the sampling dates. Epimek (97-100%) and Spintor (85-100%) also provided significant reduction in thrips larvae (compared to control) on all the sampling dates post application of treatments. In case of adults, Spintor (75-100%) and Overture (33-100%) provided significant suppression in WFT adult counts (compared to untreated control) on all the sampling dates, except DAT 5. Movento was found to be least effective against WFT larvae (27-71%) and adults (61-92%) among all the insecticide treatments.