Environmental Entomology (2019) 48, 434-443

Mohammad A. Razzak, Dakshina R. Seal, Philip A. Stansly, Oscar E. Liburd and Bruce Schaffer (2019)
Host preference and plastic mulches for managing melon thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on field-grown vegetable crops
Environmental Entomology 48 (2), 434-443
Abstract: Melon thrips, Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a serious pest of vegetable, ornamental, and fruit crops. As a potential component of an integrated pest management (IPM) program, different plastic mulches including white-on-black, black-on-white, black-on-black, two metalized ultraviolet (UV)-reflective mulches, and a no mulch control were evaluated for managing T. palmi on six field-grown vegetable crops (eggplant, cucumber, squash, snap bean, Jalapeno pepper, and tomato) during the Fall of 2015 and 2016. Metalized reflective mulch significantly reduced the number of T. palmi in all vegetable crops compared with the other treatments. The highest numbers of T. palmi were observed on the white-on-black mulch and control treatments. The numbers of adults and larvae were highest on eggplant followed by cucumber, snap bean, squash, and Jalapeno pepper. The lowest numbers of T. palmi were observed on tomato plants. This study indicated that growing vegetable crops on metalized mulch is an effective method of reducing T. palmi populations in vegetable crops and should be considered in IPM programs for this insect species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Philip A. Stansly, Oscar E. Liburd

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Thrips palmi	Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
	Thrips palmi	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)
	Thrips palmi	Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
	Thrips palmi	Beans (Phaseolus)
	Thrips palmi	Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
	Thrips palmi	Squash/pumpkin (Cucurbita)