Impacts on Natural Enemies and Competitor Thrips of Insecticides against the Western Flower Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Fruiting Vegetables

Authors

  • Mrittunjai Srivastava University of Florida, 155 Research Road, Quincy, Florida 32351
  • Joe Funderburk University of Florida, 155 Research Road, Quincy, Florida 32351
  • Steve Olson University of Florida, 155 Research Road, Quincy, Florida 32351
  • Ozan Demirozer Suleyman Demirel University, Plant Protection Department, 32260-Isparta
  • Stuart Reitz Oregon State University, 710 SW 5th Avenue, Ontario, Oregon

Keywords:

reduced-risk insecticides, biological insecticides, biological control, Orius, pepper, tomato

Abstract

Summarized from a presentation and discussions at the “Thrips: small players with big damage” Symposium at the Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society, 16 July 2013, Naples, Florida.

 

Newer, selective insecticides with few negative impacts on natural enemies and competitor species are needed for effective, sustainable management of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts on natural enemies and competitor thrips species of insecticides used for control of western flower thrips in fruiting vegetables. Trials with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and with pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were conducted to evaluate insecticide treatment effects on western flower thrips and natural enemies at the North Florida in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. A number of insecticides from different classes showed moderate to high efficacy against western flower thrips. The broad-spectrum insecticides acetamiprid, methomyl, and tolfenpyrad demonstrated activity against the pest, while also reducing populations of the key predator of thrips in pepper, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Insecticides that showed little impact on populations of O. insidiosus were cyantraniliprole, flonicamid, spirotetramat, and terpenes. Although only moderately active against the western flower thrips, they would be valuable additions to existing management programs for pepper. Insecticides with activity against western flower thrips also showed activity against Frankliniella tritici (Fitch). This non-damaging congener species is a beneficial because it out-competes the western flower thrips, especially in tomato where O. insidiosus is not a major factor in western flower thrips management. Numerous insecticides were identified with activity against the western flower thrips that are suitable for use in integrated pest management programs of fruiting vegetables.

 

Los productores de hortalizas frutales se enfrentan con sólo un número limitado de insecticidas de clase eficaz con actividad contra el trips occidental de las flores, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). La dependencia a un número limitado de insecticidas aumenta en gran medida el riesgo de desarrollo de resistencia. Se necesitan nuevos insecticidas selectivos, con poco impacto negativo sobre los enemigos naturales y especies competidoras para un manejo sostenible eficaz. El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar los insecticidas de diferentes clases químicas para la eficacia contra el trips occidental de las flores de pimiento y tomate en condiciones de campo, especialmente insecticidas que conserven los enemigos naturales y las especies competidores de trips. Se realizaron ensayos con tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.) y con chile (Capsicum annuum L.) para evaluar los efectos del tratamiento con insecticida en el trips occidental de las flores y los enemigos naturales en el norte de la Florida en el 2008, 2009, 2010 y 2011. Un número de insecticidas de diferentes clases mostró eficacia moderada a alta contra el trips occidental de las flores. Los insecticidas de amplio espectro acetamiprid, metomilo y tolfenpirad demostraron actividad contra la plaga, mientas que también redujeron las poblaciones del depredador clave del trips en chile, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Los insecticidas que mostraron poco impacto sobre la poblacion de O. insidiosus fueron ciantraniliprole, flonicamid, spirotetramat y terpenos. Aunque estos productos sólo son moderadamente activos contra el trips occidental de las flores, serían una adición valiosa a los programas de manejo existentes para el chile. Los insecticidas con actividad contra el trips occidental de las flores también mostraron actividad contra Frankliniella tritici (Fitch). Esta especie congénere no perjudicial es de beneficio porque compite mejor con el trips occidental de las flores, especialmente en tomate donde O. insidiosus no es un factor en el manejo del trips occidental de las flores. Numerosos insecticidas fueron identificados con actividad contra el trips occidental de las flores que son adecuados para su uso en programas de manejo integrado de plagas de hortalizas de fruto.

 

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Published

2014-06-20

Issue

Vol. 97, No. 2 (June 2014)

Section

Research Papers

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