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Can mass trapping reduce thrips damage and is it economically viable?: management of the western flower thrips in strawberry

Can mass trapping reduce thrips damage and is it economically viable?: management of the western flower thrips in strawberry Thumbnail


Abstract

The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a cosmopolitan, polyphagous insect pest that causes bronzing to fruit of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). The main aim of this study was to test whether mass trapping could reduce damage and to predict whether this approach would be economically viable. In semi-protected strawberry crops, mass trapping of F. occidentalis using blue sticky roller traps reduced adult thrips numbers per flower by 61% and fruit bronzing by 55%. The addition of the F. occidentalis aggregation pheromone, neryl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, to the traps doubled the trap catch, reduced adult thrips numbers per flower by 73% and fruit bronzing by 68%. The factors affecting trapping efficiency through the season are discussed. Damage that would result in downgrading of fruit to a cheaper price occurred when bronzing affected about 10% of the red fruit surface. Cost-benefit analysis using this threshold showed that mass trapping of thrips using blue sticky roller traps can be cost-effective in high-value crops. The addition of blue sticky roller traps to an integrated pest management programme maintained thrips numbers below the damage threshold and increased grower returns by a conservative estimate of £2.2k per hectare. Further work is required to develop the F. occidentalis aggregation pheromone for mass trapping and to determine the best timing for trap deployment. Mass trapping of thrips is likely to be cost-effective in other countries and other high-value crops affected by F. occidentalis damage, such as cucumber and cut flowers.

Citation

(2013). Can mass trapping reduce thrips damage and is it economically viable?: management of the western flower thrips in strawberry. PloS one, e80787. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080787

Acceptance Date Oct 3, 2013
Publication Date Nov 25, 2013
Journal PloS one
Print ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher Public Library of Science
Pages e80787
DOI https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080787
Keywords thrips, pest control
Publisher URL http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0080787

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