Integrated management of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on onion in north‐western Italy: basic approaches for supervised control

BACKGROUND: Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major pest on onion, Allium cepa L., worldwide. In 2010, research was conducted in a commercial onion field in north‐western Italy in order (i) to evaluate the efficacy of different insecticides and of the SAR activator acibenzolar‐S‐methyl, (ii) to correlate thrips infestation levels with bulb size and weight at harvest and (iii) to implement a reliable thrips sampling method. Efficacy of the three active ingredients spinosad, lambda‐cyhalothrin and acibenzolar‐S‐methyl on local thrips populations were also evaluated in laboratory bioassays. RESULTS: During field surveys, the highest and the lowest thrips infestations were observed in plots treated with lambda‐cyhalothrin and with spinosad and acibenzolar‐S‐methyl respectively. The effectiveness of spinosad was also confirmed in laboratory bioassays. At harvest, bulb size and weight did not significantly differ between treatments. A high correlation with visual inspection made plant beating a suitable sampling method for routine practice, enabling a good estimate of thrips infestation. CONCLUSION: Damage caused by thrips is often not severe enough to warrant the frequent pesticide applications the crops receive in north‐western Italy. The use of spinosad and acibenzolar‐S‐methyl is suggested as an alternative to conventional insecticides for the preservation of natural enemies. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of a juvenile hormone analog,pyriproxyfen, on Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Effects of a juvenile hormone analog, pyriproxyfen, on various developmental stadia of the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, were determined on cabbage leaves in the laboratory. Pyriproxyfen was applied at 0.064 or 0.128 g AI liter(-1) on leaves (residual contact-ingestion), thrips (direct contact) and leaf-thrips (residue contact-ingestion-direct contact). Pyriproxyfen did not have any significant lethal effects on thrips pupae in any treatment. Lethal effects on thrips larvae varied depending on application method and dosage. In the leaf and the leaf-thrips treatments, few larvae and pre-pupae molted to the next stage, and none developed to adults. In contrast, in the thrips-only treatment, pyriproxyfen did not show any significant lethal effects. The developmental times of larvae and pre-pupae were prolonged when larvae were treated with pyriproxyfen, and those of pre-pupae and pupae were shortened when pre-pupae and pupae were treated. The longevity and survival rates of thrips adults were generally shorter when they contacted and ingested pyriproxyfen-treated leaves than those in water control. Significantly fewer progeny (0.22-1.15 larvae per female) were produced by females that had fed on and been in contact with the pyriproxyfen-treated leaves than by those in the water control (11.94 larvae per female). However, the number of progeny produced by the thrips females increased significantly (3.32-7.28 larvae per female) when the females were transferred to untreated leaves after feeding on treated leaves for 5 days; the daily larval hatching pattern was similar to those in water control, indicating that female adults were able to produce viable eggs when untreated food was offered.     

几种杀虫剂对棕榈蓟马的室内毒力与田间防效

为筛选出用于防治棕榈蓟马的有效药剂,采用玻璃残留处理法测定了5种药剂对蔬菜上棕榈蓟马的室内毒力,并进行了田间药效试验。室内毒力测定结果表明,杀虫活性最高的是乙基多杀菌素,其48h的LC50值为0.19mg/L;其次是阿维菌素、溴氰虫酰胺和啶虫脒,LC50值为54.45~76.48mg/L,呋虫胺的毒力最低。田间试验结果表明,6%乙基多杀菌素悬浮剂和1.8%阿维菌素乳油对棕榈蓟马药后1~14d的防效均达90.88%以上,明显高于其他3种药剂。6%乙基多杀菌素悬浮剂是防治棕榈蓟马的首选药剂,推荐轮换使用1.8%阿维菌素乳油和10%溴氰虫酰胺可分散油悬浮剂。     

Inheritance of resistance to acrinathrin in Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

BACKGROUND: The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is an economically important pest. The genetic basis of acrinathrin resistance was investigated in WFT. RESULTS: The resistant strain, selected in the laboratory for acrinathrin resistance from a pool of thrips populations collected in Almeria (south-eastern Spain), showed a high resistance to acrinathrin (43-fold based on LC(50) values) compared with the laboratory susceptible strain. Mortality data from reciprocal crosses of resistant and susceptible thrips indicated that resistance was autosomal and not influenced by maternal effects. Analysis of probit lines from the parental strains and reciprocal crosses showed that resistance was expressed as a codominant trait. To determine the number of genes involved, a direct test of monogenic inheritance based on the backcrosses suggested that resistance to acrinathrin was probably controlled by one locus. Another approach, which was based on phenotypic variances, showed n(E), or the minimum number of freely segregating genetic factors for the resistant strain, to be 0.79. CONCLUSION: The results showed that acrinathrin resistance in WFT was autosomal and not influenced by maternal effects, and was expressed as a codominant trait, probably controlled by one locus.     

Response of onion (Allium cepa L.) plants to fertilizers, weed competition duration, and planting times in the central Jordan Valley

The competitive ability of onion with weeds and the effects of weeds on onion crop growth and yield were investigated in three field experiments carried out in the central Jordan Valley during the 1997–1998 growing season. Fertilizer application to the onion plants in the presence of weeds significantly lowered the onion yield and reduced the bulb diameter, compared to the unfertilized, weed-infested onion crop. Weed competition and onion yield reduction increased with an increase in the fertilizer rate. All weed-free treatments with or without fertilizer gave a significantly higher onion yield than any of the fertilized, weedy plots. The highest yield of onion was obtained from the weed-free plots with a moderate application of fertilizer. Weed competition reduced the growth, bulb yield, and size of onion in the plots established from bulbs, seedlings, and seeds when compared to the relevant weed-free controls. The effect increased with competition duration and was more pronounced in direct-seeded onion than in the other two types of planting material. However, onion grown from bulbs or seedlings gave better growth, bulb weight, and number and was more competitive than the direct-seeded onion. The results showed that the minimum number of days of weed competition needed for a significant reduction in onion growth was 42 days when propagated from bulbs or seedlings and 21 days after direct-seeding. Onion grown from bulbs tolerated weed competition better and produced a higher bulb yield than that obtained from direct-seeded or transplanted onion, irrespective of the planting dates. December was found to be the best planting time for onion that was grown from bulbs and seedlings, while November was the best planting time for direct-seeded onion, provided the plots were weed-free throughout the growing season.     

Evaluation of medium treatments for management of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) and Bradysia coprophila (Diptera: Sciaridae)

Two greenhouse experiments, each comprising two trials, were conducted to evaluate medium drenches of insect growth regulators and conventional insecticides to reduce emergence of adult western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and fungus gnats, Bradysia coprophila (Lintner) from the medium. In the insect growth regulator trials, diflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen provided the greatest reduction in thrips emergence, and fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen and azadirachtin resulted in the most significant reduction of fungus gnat emergence. Treatments with the contact insecticides, methiocarb and chlorpyrifos, resulted in the greatest reduction of thrips and fungus gnat populations. These data suggest that fungus gnats are susceptible to many compounds used in commercial greenhouse production. Even though medium drenches are not currently used for thrips management, drenches with diflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, methiocarb and chlorpyrifos could aid in reducing thrips populations in greenhouse management programs. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) mitigation in seedling cotton using strip tillage and winter cover crops

BACKGROUND: Thrips are the most consistent insect pests of seedling cotton in the southeastern United States, where symptoms can range from leaf curling to stand loss. In a 2 year study, thrips adults and immatures were sampled at 14, 21 and 28 days after planting on cotton planted with a thiamethoxam seed treatment in concert with crimson clover, wheat or rye winter cover crops and conventional or strip tillage to investigate potential differences in thrips infestations. RESULTS: Densities of adult thrips, primarily Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), peaked on the first sampling date, whereas immature densities peaked on the second sampling date. Regardless of winter cover crop, plots that received strip tillage experienced significantly fewer thrips at each sampling interval. In addition, assessment of percentage ground cover 42 days after planting showed that there was more than twice as much ground cover in the strip‐tilled plots compared with conventionally tilled plots. Correlation analyses showed that increased ground cover was inversely related to thrips densities that occurred on all three sampling dates in 2008 and the final sampling date in 2009. CONCLUSIONS: Growers who utilize strip tillage and a winter cover crop can utilize seed treatments for mitigation of early‐season thrips infestation. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in northern Tunisian citrus orchards: population density,damage and insecticide trial for sustainable pest management

Phytoparasitica - Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) have been considered serious pests infesting a wide range of host plants around the world, which has also been the case for citrus trees in...     

Quantification of imidacloprid toxicity to avocado thrips, Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), using a combined bioassay and ELISA approach

A competitive ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique was evaluated for quantifying titres of imidacloprid in homogenates of leaf discs sampled from avocado plants treated with systemic applications of imidacloprid 240 g litre(-1) SC (Admire). Matrix effects were evident with undiluted leaf tissue homogenates, but these were effectively eliminated by dilution of homogenates in water. In a field trial conducted in a commercial nursery, there was an excellent correlation between imidacloprid residues within leaves and avocado thrips (Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara) mortality. However, with subsequent sampling over a 2-month period, the relationship between mortality and apparent imidacloprid concentration became less robust, suggesting that the material was being degraded within the plant to non-toxic metabolites. Nevertheless, assessments of thrips mortality on leaves that had been recently treated with imidacloprid established a lower threshold of activity for imidacloprid residues of 6 ng cm(-2) leaf. Limitations on the use of ELISA to quantify the impact of systemic insecticides on pest populations are discussed.     

Baseline toxicity and stage specificity of recently developed reduced‐risk insecticides chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram to obliquebanded leafroller,Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

BACKGROUND: Studies were designed to assess baseline toxicity of the two recently developed reduced‐risk insecticides chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram to obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and to determine stage‐specific effects of these products on OBLR, so that these new chemicals could be judiciously incorporated into IPM programs by targeting only the most susceptible stages of OBLR. RESULTS: Both chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram were highly effective against neonate OBLR larvae at much lower doses than conventional standard azinphosmethyl. Most of the mortality caused by spinetoram occurred during the 4 day exposure period, while significant delayed mortality was observed as a result of chlorantraniliprole treatment during the 7 day recovery period, indicating that chlorantraniliprole is a slower‐acting compound compared with spinetoram. Unlike broad‐spectrum predecessors, the toxicity of chlorantraniliprole significantly increased with larval age. Similarly, the toxicity of spinetoram increased as larvae grew from neonates to third instars. CONCLUSION: Chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram are highly effective against OBLR larvae, regardless of larval age. Incorporation of these reduced‐risk chemistries into IPM programs for OBLR would lead to effective management of this pest in tree fruit systems. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prey consumption rates and compatibility with pesticides of four predatory mites from the family Phytoseiidae attacking Thrips palmi Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

BACKGROUND: Predatory mites (Amblyseius swirskii Athias‐Henriot, Typhlodromips montdorensis Schicha, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) and Iphiseius degenerans Berlese) were investigated for their potential to act as control agents for Thrips palmi Karny. Prey consumption rates and compatibility with pesticides were assessed. RESULTS: Second‐instar larvae were the preferred life stage. Typhlodromips montdorensis consumed the most larvae (2.8) and also an average of 1.2 adult T. palmi per 5 day period. Both 24 and 48 h assessments following application of abamectin, spinosad and imazalil demonstrated mortality of predatory mites (across all species), which was significantly higher than with the other treatments (P < 0.001). Spraying with pymetrozine did not provide any increased mortality when compared with the water control. Application of thiacloprid proved detrimental only to I. degenerans. Following indirect exposure of predatory mites to pymetrozine and imazalil, no significant differences in mite mortality were obtained. Indirect exposure to spinosad was identified as the most detrimental treatment (P < 0.001) to all mites. Abamectin also proved detrimental, with only T. montdorensis showing any potential tolerance. CONCLUSION: All predatory mites investigated offer potential for controlling T. palmi. Compatibility with chemicals varied between the mites. The potential of incorporating the mites into eradication strategies for T. palmi is discussed. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

亚致死浓度多杀菌素对西花蓟马解毒酶系活力的影响

采用亚致死浓度(LC25)多杀菌素对西花蓟马Frankliniella occidentalis相对敏感(SS)种群进行连续选育,获得亚致死(Sub)种群。处理36代后,Sub种群对多杀菌素的敏感性下降到SS种群的5.2倍。用SS和Sub种群各自的LC10和LC25浓度多杀菌素分别处理两种群的2龄若虫,1、6 、12、24和48 h后测定羧酸酯酶(CarE)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs) 和多功能氧化酶(MFOs)的比活力。结果表明,Sub种群对照组CarE和GSTs比活力在除第48 h外的其他时间段都高于SS种群对照组,且6 h时两者CarE比活力差异显著,Sub种群是SS种群的1.37倍;Sub种群对照组MFOs比活力在各时间段都高于SS种群对照组,在1 和6 h时差异显著,前者分别是后者的1.62和1.36倍。再经各自的LC10和LC25浓度多杀菌素处理后,在各时间段Sub种群的CarE比活力均高于SS种群;LC25浓度处理后,Sub种群的GSTs和MFOs比活力虽在短时间内低于SS种群,但随处理时间的延长其比活力均高于SS种群。说明SS种群经亚致死浓度多杀菌素选育36代后,其体内CarE、GSTs和MFOs比活力有上升趋势;继续用亚致死浓度多杀菌素处理,则Sub种群体内解毒酶活力的动态调节能力要强于SS种群。     

施磷对紫花苜蓿光合作用及抗蓟马的影响

为了明确施磷对苜蓿抗蓟马的影响及其相关的光合机制,本试验以西北广泛种植的感蓟马苜蓿品种‘甘农3号’和抗蓟马苜蓿品种‘甘农9号’为材料,在大田蓟马为害高峰期,调查评价了不同施磷水平下苜蓿的受害指数、生长指标和蓟马虫口数量,测定了不同施磷水平下苜蓿的光合气体交换参数、可溶性糖含量。结果表明:施磷后,‘甘农3号’和‘甘农9号’苜蓿的受害指数均显著降低,株高和产量显著增加,蓟马虫口数量无显著变化;净光合速率(Pn)和水分利用率(WUE)显著升高,蒸腾速率(Tr)和气孔导度(Gs)显著降低;苜蓿心叶可溶性糖含量显著升高,但可溶性糖含量与蓟马虫口密度间无相关性,而与受害指数之间存在极显著的负相关关系。施磷有效地增强了苜蓿的光合作用,进而增强了苜蓿对蓟马的耐害性。在大田条件下,通过增施磷肥来控制苜蓿蓟马的危害是一种经济有效的绿色防控措施。     

Comparative analyses of the toxic effects of imidacloprid and spirotetramat on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), the vector of tomato zonate spot virus: a laboratory assay

The tomato zonate spot virus (TZSV) is responsible for substantial yield losses in vegetables, tobacco and other cash crops in China in recent years. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), is the main vector of TZSV in Yunnan Province. Because controlling the population of insect vectors is the most efficient way to prevent epidemics of viral diseases, we conducted laboratory assays to assess the potential of using spirotetramat as an alternative to imidacloprid in controlling F. occidentalis. Our results demonstrated that spirotetramat was significantly more lethal than imidacloprid to F. occidentalis at different concentrations. The LC₃₀, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values of spirotetramat were all much lower than those of imidacloprid after the same time of treatment. Frankliniella occidentalis was more sensitive when treated with spirotetramat than imidacloprid at the concentrations of 500, 250, 125 and 62.5mg/L, and the median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) were 285.53, 82.24 and 11.19mg/L at 12, 36 and 72 hours after treatment, respectively. Spirotetramat caused 100% mortality of F. occidentalis at 500 and 250 mg/L after 48 hours treatment, and at the lowest concentration 125 mg/L at 72 hours after treatment, respectively. Field experiments carried out elsewhere have confirmed our findings. Together they allow us to conclude that spirotetramat is a promising pesticide for the control F. occidentalis in China.     

Yield of early white cabbage grown under mulch and non-mulch conditions with low populations of onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman)

The damage caused by Thrips tabaci to a susceptible hybrid of early white cabbage was studied in field experiments undertaken during 2004 and 2005. The three treatments tested were beds of cabbage mulched with: (1) barley straw, (2) hay, and (3) black polyethylene (PE) sheeting. Bare-soil (un-mulched) beds were used as the control treatment. One early and one late experiment were performed in both years. In the early experiments, the mulches were applied at the start of the experiment, whereas in the late experiments the soil was first covered with black polyethylene for approximately 1 month. In both years, the springs were cold and wet, and so the thrips appeared late and their numbers were low. The highest mean actual weight and trimmed weight were recorded for cabbage grown in 2005 under PE mulch (actual early: 995 g, actual late: 1184 g, trimmed early: 870 g, trimmed late: 1056 g). Year 2004 gave lower values (110g for both variables) under barley straw and hay mulch (165 g and 160 g, respectively). There was no evidence of an allelopathic effect of water extracts of either barley straw or hay.     

豆大蓟马室内对不同颜色及光波的趋性反应

豆大蓟马(Megalurothrips usitatus)是近年来严重制约海南豇豆生产的重要害虫。本文应用正八角体和正六角体装置分别研究了豆大蓟马成虫对8种颜色色卡及其虚拟波长(白polychromatic light、紫380nm、蓝440nm、浅蓝461nm、绿510nm、黄绿540nm、黄580nm、红647nm)和5种波长发光二极管(LED)(紫405nm、蓝461nm、绿519nm、黄570nm和红650nm)的趋性反应。结果表明,波长为440nm和461nm及其对应的蓝色和浅蓝色色卡对豆大蓟马成虫的吸引率显著高于其他虚拟波长对应的颜色色卡,其次是波长为540nm的黄绿色和复色光对应的白色。在光趋性试验中,波长为461nm的蓝光LED灯对豆大蓟马成虫的吸引率显著高于其他颜色波长的LED灯。综合分析不同颜色色卡和LED光波对豆大蓟马的引诱作用,两者均表明豆大蓟马对波长为440~461nm的蓝色(光)最敏感,由此可见,蓝色粘虫板或蓝光诱虫灯可作为监测和防治豆大蓟马的一种有效手段。