Options available for controlling thrips

During this year’s Society of American Florists Pest & Production Management Conference, IPM extension program specialist Scott Ludwig at Texas AgriLife Extension Service introduced a “Thrips Management Program for Plants for Planting”. Developed by scientists from academia and the commercial sector, the program offers users specific information on the use of cultural, biological and chemical controls. Ludwig said the program is an evolving document that will change as new information is developed.
The program outlines steps to manage and maintain thrips populations from propagation through to shipment of finished product. The program offers 4 options including Aggressive Treatment and 3 Maintenance Treatments with or without biological controls. The program provides a key for suggested thrips applications based on plant susceptibility to vectored viruses, level of thrips infestation, use of biological controls and plant development stage.
A copy of this year’s conference proceedings can be ordered from SAF.