Onion thrips, Trips tabaci Lindeman, populations on onions, Allium cepa L., were managed using insecticides to achieve differential levels of infestations. Yields of onion bulbs from the plots were evaluated using regression analysis to determine impact of thrips feeding on bulb size. Results were used to quantify the economic impact of managing thrips with insecticides. Results indicate that in years with favorable weather for onion production, a grower will increase profits by controlling thrips populations. Additionally, results indicate that in years with unfavorable weather conditions for production of onions, the lack of thrips management may result in net losses to a grower.
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Edelson et al. (1989) studied this question.