Evaluation of commercial lures as a component of a trap crop system for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Thrips are important agricultural pests that are polyphagous and extremely destructive and difficult to manage. Most thrips enter greenhouses from the surrounding environment through ventilation structures and introduced plant materials. Thrips dispersing from surrounding fields into the greenhouses can be intercepted with trap plants, such as marigolds, which are attractive to thrips and inexpensive to grow (Glenister and Newman 2011). Semiochemical lures may aid growers’ management strategies against thrips. Chemical kairomones may be incorporated into trap crop systems as part of a thrips management program by increasing the attractiveness of trap crops to pests. Trap crops can be selected for their attractiveness to thrips, and enhanced with a lure, such as Thrips-Lure.
In this study, we tested two commercial lures (Thrips-Lure and Thripline) under field conditions at the Pee Dee Rec in Florence, South Carolina. These lures were tested in the summer season of 2019. Preliminary results showed that lures were most effective the first week they were placed out, with residual attractiveness in the second week. Data generated from this experiment will help determine the most attractive lure for development of a pest management system for South Carolina against thrips.