Reflective mulches reduced the aphid-borne cucumber mosaic virus in gladiolus by repelling the vectors, winged aphids (Aphididae) (Johnson et al. 1967) and also reduced the number of flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici (Fitch), and their damage to outdoor roses (Ota and Smith 1968). Therefore, experiments were conducted at Beltsville, Md., in 1970 and 1971 to test the repellency of aluminum and black-plastic soil mulches against the gladiolus thrips, Taeniothrips simplex (Morison), which damages the flowers.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Smith et al. (1972) studied this question.