Project Number: 6618-22000-030-26
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 16, 2008
End Date: Sep 30, 2010

Objective:
Specific objectives for this cooperative research include: 1)Determine efficacy and residual activity of registered insecticides against chilli thrips and other invasive pests; 2)Develop baseline data of chilli thrips to spinosad (Conserve) and chlorfenapyr (Pylon) for future resistance monitoring efforts; 3)Determine direct impact and residual activity of insecticides against key beneficial organisms used for biological control of thrips and other invasive pests; and 4)Develop model pesticide rotation programs for chilli thrips and western flower thrips. These rotations will be developed based on residual activity, labeled restrictions on frequency of application and impact on key beneficial arthropods.

Approach:
The approach of this cooperative research project is to evaluate registered pesticides alone and in rotation on different floral and ornamental host plants such as knock-out roses and hawthorne for efficacy against chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) and their impact on predatory mites, (Amblyseius swirskii and Neoseiulus californicus ) for development of BMPs. In order to minimize reliance on spinosad and the attendant problems that this poses for western flower thrips management, efficacy trails will be conducted to find additional materials for chilli thrips control and their impact on beneficials. We fully expect to find pesticides that have lost their efficacy on WFT but not to chilli thrips. Bioassays will be conducted to determine susceptibility baseline data for chilli thrips to the most important compounds. Data will be used to develop robust IPM programs and BMPs for thrips control in general and Scirtothrips dorsalis in particular.