Empire Fruit & Vegetable Expo Report: How to Win the Battle Against Onion Thrips

摘要

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, is the (major insect pest of onion and its control is critical to the production and profitability of this crop. Thrips feeding can reduce bulb yields by 30-50 percent, and losses can be exacerbated if thrips infect the crop with Iris yellow spot virus or create damage that permits other pathogens to infect the crop.Insecticide use is the most important tactic for thrips control. Advancements in our understanding about how to effectively manage thrips with insecticides has proven highly successful. Winning the war against thrips, however, will require additional management tactics. To win battles againstonion thrips, insecticides should be applied only when needed and in a manner that should reduce the development of insecticide resistance.