Disease vectoring, chemical-resistant, and unsightly,
It's time to talk about
Thrips
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Some of the characteristics that make thrips economically damaging pests:
- Wide distribution
- Thrips have been encountered across the United States and Southern Canada. Thought to be spread from ornamentals and vegetable seedlings in southern nurseries.
- Wide host range
- Thrips have an exceedingly wide host range, even within a single species such as Western Flower Thrips. Thrips are most damaging on plants that are suitable hosts for viruses and thrips reproduction, such as tomatoes.
- Vectors of diseases
- Most notably with tomato-spotted wilt virus, thrips are able to carry and distribute diseases throughout a crop, multiplying the danger they present to all kinds of crops.
- Damaging to leaves and fruit
- Thrips cause deformation in fruits, as well as stippling on the surface of leaves. This damage is not only unsightly, but can also lead to malformation of the leaves later on.
- Resistant to chemicals
- Thrips are resistant to certain insecticides, and can become resistant to others over time. It is recommended to rotate between insecticide classes to reduce risk of resistance.
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Beneficial insects
Beneficial insects should be used to handle moderate and low levels of infestation, or in situations where thrips have become chemically-resistant. When using combinations of beneficial insects, you can have a greater impact on thrips populations by targeting multiple life stages.
Thrips species vary in their life cycles, and while many have a soil-bound pupal stage such as western flower thrips and tobacco thrips, others do not. Check out this link for more specific information.
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Amblyseuis cucumeris: A natural enemy of thrips, apply A. cucumeris to the foliage of your crop. The mites target juvenile thrips and pest mites.
You can identify a thrips juvenile by its lack of wings. Adult and larval thrips will often feed together in small groups.
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Amblyseuis swiskii: One of the most commonly used predatory mites for the suppression of thrips species, A. swirskii should be applied to the foliage. A. swirskii also benefits from higher temperatures and humidities, but is still effective as low 53F.
Amblyseius swirskii is also effective for suppression of whiteflies and spider mites.
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Orius insidiosus: A generalist predator that preys on a variety of small, soft bodied insects like aphids and thrips.
Orius insidiosus are most effective against pests with life stages that inhabit flowers, such as western flower thrips.
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Nematodes: Entomopathogenic nematodes infect a variety of pests. Our greenhouse nematode blend is best for targeting the pupal stage of thrips that dwells in the soil.
A safe-to-use application that doesn't require any safety equipment or re-entry restrictions. Get down into the soil with the Greenhouse blend.
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Dalotia coriaria: is a soil-dwelling rove beetle that actively and aggressively prey on thrips pupae and many other soil-dwelling pests. (E.g., shore flies, fungus gnats, and springtails).
Dalotia coriaria are attracted to decomposing plant and animal material, as well as algae, where their preferred hosts can be found.
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Stratiolaelaps scimitus: is a soil-dwelling predatory mite which feeds on small insects and mites. They move rapidly over the soil surface and other growing media, and are often used with nematodes for greater suppression.
Stratiolaealaps scimitus is compatible with Daloitia coriaria.
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Foliar juvenile thrips: Ambyseius cucumeris, Orius insidiosus.
Foliar adult thrips: Orius insidiosus.
Soil-dwelling pupa: Nematodes, Dalotia coriaria, Stratiolaelaps scimitus.
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Bioceres WP:
A certified organic, non-phytotoxic entomopathogenic-fungus based pesticide. The Beauvaria bassiana (ANT-03) spore infects pests such as thrips, whiteflies, and aphids, and kills them within 3 to 5 days.
Mycoinsecticides like Bioceres WP, Velifer, Botanigard and many more are effective fungal insecticides that can suppress thrips. Boosting humidity when applying these insecticides will increase infectivity and suppression.
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Eco-tec Plus:
Eco-tec Plus is a broad spectrum, contact insecticide/miticide with no REI or PHI. The active ingredients are rosemary oil, geraniol, and peppermint oil which work together to smother insects.
While Eco-tec Plus should not be applied when beneficials have been applied, it is an excellent knock-down to kickstart your thrips biocontrol program.
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There are a number of things you can do to slow down the progress of thrips, and reduce the overall danger they present to your growing operation. Here are a few examples:
- Sanitation: Weeds serve as alternative hosts for thrips populations. Make sure to clean out any plant debris and weeds to prevent repeated reinfestation. Thrips also transmit diseases, so keep an eye out for viruses and keep your plants clean.
- Nitrogen fertilization: High rates of nitrogen fertilization has been found to increase the abundance of thrips on tomato.
- Exclusion and barriers: While thrips are very small and can fit through most commercially available screens, low barriers can reduce the dispersal and invasion of crops in field conditions.
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New item in our store!
Mycostop
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Developed from a naturally occurring bacteria, Streptomyces griseoviridis, Mycostop is a preventative product that thrives in the rhizosphere for serveral weeks... (SEE MORE)
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Photo credit
Top (center): courtesy of Dr. Manfred R. Ulitzka (research entomologist)
Bottom (left): Tomato wilt virus. Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Bottom (right): Thrips damage. Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
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