Articles
Western flower thrips management in greenhouse production systems in the 21st century: alternative strategies need to be considered
Article number
1104_57
Pages
381 – 394
Language
English
Abstract
Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is a major insect pest of greenhouse-grown horticultural crops that producers worldwide deal with using a variety of management or plant protection strategies, including insecticides and biological control.
However, continual use of insecticides, especially those with narrow-spectrum modes of action, may lead to the development of resistance.
In addition, the introduction of insecticides with new active ingredients is limited due to the costs associated with development and registration.
Therefore, it is important for greenhouse producers to judiciously use what is currently available and also utilize insecticides with broad modes of activity.
Although the use of biological control is increasing worldwide, there are issues associated with the effectiveness of specific natural enemies including the predatory mites, predatory bugs, and entomopathogenic nematodes.
In addition, because western flower thrips can vector viruses, including tospoviruses, the tolerance for their presence in production systems is extremely low.
The future prospects of effectively managing western flower thrips populations on greenhouse-grown horticultural crops will involve an integrated or holistic approach that entails implementation of the typical strategies including scouting, cultural practices, sanitation, physical impediments, insecticides, and biological control.
Furthermore, greenhouse producers will have to develop a new mind-set in that the goal of managing western flower thrips is not complete elimination.
So, in order to obtain long-term sufficient suppression of western flower thrips populations in greenhouse production systems, not only do the typical strategies need to be utilized but alternative strategies need to be considered such as 1) entomopathogenic fungi, 2) selective insecticides, 3) selective insecticides with natural enemies, 3) combinations of natural enemies, and 4) push-pull systems (e.g., trap plants and plant volatiles). These alternative strategies, however, cannot be too expensive to implement as less than 2% of the total cost of production is associated with plant protection.
Moreover, these alternative strategies must not only be inexpensive but also effective, at some level, or greenhouse producers will simply return to relying on insecticides.
However, continual use of insecticides, especially those with narrow-spectrum modes of action, may lead to the development of resistance.
In addition, the introduction of insecticides with new active ingredients is limited due to the costs associated with development and registration.
Therefore, it is important for greenhouse producers to judiciously use what is currently available and also utilize insecticides with broad modes of activity.
Although the use of biological control is increasing worldwide, there are issues associated with the effectiveness of specific natural enemies including the predatory mites, predatory bugs, and entomopathogenic nematodes.
In addition, because western flower thrips can vector viruses, including tospoviruses, the tolerance for their presence in production systems is extremely low.
The future prospects of effectively managing western flower thrips populations on greenhouse-grown horticultural crops will involve an integrated or holistic approach that entails implementation of the typical strategies including scouting, cultural practices, sanitation, physical impediments, insecticides, and biological control.
Furthermore, greenhouse producers will have to develop a new mind-set in that the goal of managing western flower thrips is not complete elimination.
So, in order to obtain long-term sufficient suppression of western flower thrips populations in greenhouse production systems, not only do the typical strategies need to be utilized but alternative strategies need to be considered such as 1) entomopathogenic fungi, 2) selective insecticides, 3) selective insecticides with natural enemies, 3) combinations of natural enemies, and 4) push-pull systems (e.g., trap plants and plant volatiles). These alternative strategies, however, cannot be too expensive to implement as less than 2% of the total cost of production is associated with plant protection.
Moreover, these alternative strategies must not only be inexpensive but also effective, at some level, or greenhouse producers will simply return to relying on insecticides.
Authors
R.A. Cloyd
Keywords
Frankliniella occidentalis, horticulture, pest management, plant protection, insecticides, biological control, push-pull systems
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