Western Flower Thrips: Phermone Lures and Sweeteners
Thursday, 25 March 2010 11:49
Questions have been asked about using pheromone lures to detect Western flower thrips and the effectiveness of using sugar in the spray mix to enhance spray efficacy.
Phermone Lures
A new item for WFT is a sex aggregation pheromone lure for early detection of low level populations. It is reportedly best used very early in the crop cycle. A number of companies sell or distribute lures that are suppose to increase the number of WFT thrips adults captured on sticky cards or attract WFT out of hiding places such as flowers or buds, increasing their exposure to insecticide spray applications and achieving higher mortality. Note that a pheromone lure is not a “control” device. Some growers are concerned about attracting WFT to un-infested areas, especially if used this late in the growing season with active thrips infestations. Also there are questions about the longevity of the scent within a greenhouse and how effective the pheromone lure is when many different plant types are in flower.
Using Sugar in Spray Solution
Growers for years have suggested that mixing white or brown sugar with a contact insecticide in the spray solution enhances efficacy of the spray application against western flower thrips. Research by Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University showed that the addition of sugar and other sweeteners to lure thrips from hiding does not work and in some cases can cause the growth of black sooty mold.Information on thrips management by Dr. Raymond Cloyd:
Western Flower Thrips Management: Have We Reached and Impasse?
Tina Smith, University of Massachusetts
