Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) chemical control: insecticide efficacy associated with the three consecutive spray strategy

After the initial 1993 discovery of Frankliniella occidentalis , western flower thrips, in Australia, temporary chemical control permits were issued to facilitate their insecticidal control. However, these permits were based on established endemic pests of Australian horticulture rather than demonstrated efficacy against F. occidentalis , and laboratory bioassays of Australian field‐collected F. occidentalis suggested that some permit application rates were too low to be effective. In 2002 and 2003 field‐based trials were carried out in strawberry and lettuce to collect field‐generated efficacy data to verify the laboratory conclusions. It was found that by increasing field application rates above the existing permit rate, efficacy was increased, but not for all insecticides and not for all thrips life stages. Increasing the rate of abamectin and endosulfan in strawberry increased control of adults and larvae and increasing the rate of endosulfan in lettuce increased efficacy against larvae only. Spinosad was effective at both rates tested in strawberry, suggesting that the current permit rate could be reduced. The ability to use reduced rates may be useful if used in combination with Integrated Pest Management programs.