|
ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON (MT. TIME)
THURSDAY TO SHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK
All living beneficials will be sent by
2 Day Air or NEXT Day Air
| Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci There
are two types of thrips that can be pests to greenhouse operations, the Tobacco or Onion
thrips (Thrips tabaci) and the Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella
occidentalis). Although Western Flower Thrips have been found to vector Tomato
Spotted Wilt Virus and are slightly different in size than the Onion Thrips, the life
cycle and feeding habits are similar. Thrips cut a slit in a plant and deposit their eggs
into the slit. The eggs hatch into a nymph that feeds on the plant for 7 - 14 days. |
 |
|
|
Thrips are very tiny insects (about 1/50th of an inch), but signs of
their feeding are very noticeable. Thrips (nymphs and adults) scrape plant tissue to
induce the flow of plant juices. This scraping causes the tissue to desiccate
and
gradually enlarge to form a ‘window’. They also feed on small fruit, pollen, and
flower parts. Full-grown nymphs drop to the growing media (some reports indicate 90% - 95%
of the Western Flower Thrips drop to the growing media - the remainder pupate on the
plants) and go through a pre-pupae and pupae stage before emerging as an adult and
climbing up the plant to feed, mate and repeat their life cycle. Adult thrips are capable
of flying.
|
Thrips are capable of pupating and multiplying most rapidly during periods of warm, dry
weather. When growing media and greenhouse floors are kept on the dry side, thrips will
multiply rapidly.
Thrips are very tiny insects (about 1/50th of an inch), but signs of
their feeding are very noticeable. Thrips (nymphs and adults) scrape plant tissue to
induce the flow of plant juices. This scraping causes the tissue to desiccate
and
gradually enlarge to form a ‘window’. They also feed on small fruit, pollen, and
flower parts. Full-grown nymphs drop to the growing media (some reports indicate 90% - 95%
of the Western Flower Thrips drop to the growing media - the remainder pupate on the
plants) and go through a pre-pupae and pupae stage before emerging as an adult and
climbing up the plant to feed, mate and repeat their life cycle. Adult thrips are capable
of flying.
Thrips are capable of pupating and multiplying most rapidly during periods of warm, dry
weather. When growing media and greenhouse floors are kept on the dry side, thrips will
multiply rapidly.
THRIPS CONTROL
We have not found an individual method that can control thrips. However, a program
using a combination of these methods listed appears to maintain populations below
destructive levels.
| Thrips Predator Amblyseius cucumeris
These predatory mites are tan-orange in color and similar in looks and movement to the
spider mite predator. The predator population must be built up and established early in
the crop, even before evidence of thrips. These predators search the plants and feed on
thrip nymphs and immature spidermites. Introduce at the rate of 1 predator per ft2,
two weeks after transplanting. Repeat applications every month during periods of warm, dry
weather. These predators provide a means of control in the foliage. If NO
THRIPS are
present, A. cucumeris can survive on pollen |
Amblyseius cucumeris
Attacking a Thrip |
Application
Rate = 1 per Sq/Ft (of greenhouse area) every two weeks.
|
|
Thrips Predator Hypoaspis miles
Hypoaspis miles also feeds on fungus gnats and spring tails. |
Application
Rate = 10 per Sq/Ft (greenhouse area) every 2 weeks light infestation.
30 per Sq/Ft ( greenhouse area) every 2 weeks heavy infestation.
|
| Guardian Steinernema Sp
These beneficial
parasites have worked in our greenhouses to control thrips. They have been found effective
to control most insects that spend a portion of their life cycle in the growing media,
such as the Onion thrips. "GUARDIAN" provides a means of control within the
growing media and earthen floors. For more information on Hydro-Gardens'
"GUARDIAN", see the section on Broad Spectrum
Controls. |
|
|
Photo credits: Department of
Entomology
Texas A&M University |
Orius Minute Pirate Bug
Orius can be distinguished by their large red eyes. The adults are about 1/8th inch long
(3cm) and brown to black in color. All stages can catch and kill small insects. They hold
their prey with the forelegs and suck them empty. Orius are cannibalistic
and should be released immediately upon receipt. They fly fairly well and thus are very mobile. Many growers have
reported that Orius not only gets rid of their Thrips problem, but also reduces their
problems with Whiteflies, spider mites and other pest insects. Orius is a welcome addition
to our thrips control. |
Application
Rate = 1 per 20 - 40Sq/Ft every four to eight weeks. |
| Part # |
Description |
Quantity per Pack |
Price |
- |
| 5P375 |
Orius |
500 |
$49.95 |
 |
| 5P375 |
Orius |
2 @ 500 |
$95.00 |
|
ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON (MT. TIME)
THURSDAY TO SHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK
All living
beneficials will be sent by
2 Day Air or NEXT Day Air
|
| Amblyseius swirskiis - a predatory mite that breeds
extremely quickly under warm and humid environmental conditions. It
predates on whiteflies, thrips and other pests. In the absence of prey
it can also survive on the plant, feeding on pollen or mould. It prefers
a warm humid climate, but can survive cooler nights during the winter
months in semi-protected crops by moving lower down the plants, where it
benefits from the warmer micro-climate closer to the ground |
|
|
Application
Rate = 1 per 6 Sq/Ft every six to eight weeks. |
| Part # |
Description |
Quantity per Pack |
Price |
- |
| 5P378 |
Amblyseius swirskiis |
25,000 |
$50.95 |
|
|
ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON (MT. TIME)
THURSDAY TO SHIP THE FOLLOWING WEEK
swirskiis
will be sent direct from the insectary
by NEXT Day Air ONLY!
|
We recommend this handy 30X pocket microscope to aid in identification
of these and other insects. Part # 5E217 priced at just $9.95
click here to see a more
information on this item.
| Stiky
Traps - Click
Here for more information.
Many insects are attracted to
the color yellow. These insects
can be captured by hanging cards
around your plants. Captured
adults will not lay any more
eggs on your plants. Yellow
Stiky traps provide a means of
controlling the flying stages of
most pest insects.
"Fly-Barr"
Insect Barrier - Click
Here for more information.
When your exhaust fans are
running, your intake vents are
like a vacuum cleaner catching
everything flying near the
vents. Covering these intake
vents with INSECT BARRIER will
greatly reduce the introduction
of unwanted pests into your
greenhouse. Clean INSECT BARRIER
reduces your airflow less than
5%. |
|
