Project Number: 6618-22320-002-01
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 16, 2008
End Date: Sep 16, 2013

Objective:
1. Determine efficacy and residual activity of registered insecticides against chilli thrips, Bemisia tabaci, and other taxa of invasive pests. 2. Determine direct impact and residual activity of insecticides against key beneficial organisms used for biological control of thrips, Bemisia tabaci, mites, and other taxa of invasive pests. 3. Develop model pesticide rotation programs, 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.