Thrips Management for Strawberries Meeting in Dover, FL

Thrips Management in Strawberry

Grower meeting

Tuesday October 20, 2015

12:00-3:00

FSGA 13138 Lewis Gallagher Rd., Dover FL 33527

12:00-12:45        Grower Lunch Sponsored by DuPont

                  

12:45-1:25          “Thresholds, seasonal abundance and resistance monitoring for thrips in strawberries”

                             Dr. Joe Funderburk, Iris Strzyzewski, Danielle Sprague         Entomologists, UF, North Florida REC

1:25-1:45            “Species complex and management of thrips in strawberries”

                             Drs. Oscar Liburd, Janine Razze, Elena Rhodes

                                    Entomologists, UF, Gainesville

1:45-2:10            Break & opportunity to view thrips and other strawberry pests.

2:10-2:30            “DuPont crop protection products for strawberry”

                             Dr. James Taylor, DuPont

2:30-3:00            Questions, answers and discussion

Please RSVP by Oct. 14 for headcount for lunch to Alicia Whidden at 813-744-5519 ext. 54134 or awhidden@ufl.edu.  CEU and CCA credits applied for.

Hillsborough County Extension is a cooperative service of Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the University of Florida.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations.  U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M., University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.

Reports of Thrips in the FL Nature Coast Area

Image from IPM NCSU

Over the past week, I have received reports and seen high population of thrips on horticultural crops. To the point, they are biting workers and are believed to be chiggers.

As many of you know, thrips can transfer viruses as well as cause commodities to be unmarketable due to incurred damage.

I have included link to documents to manage thrips in the various crops that are grown in the Pasco-Hernando-Citrus-Sumter area. Please make sure you read the label on any product you intend to use. The label is the law!

Ornamental Crops – Thrips Management from MREC - https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/DOCUMENTS/ThripsManagementProgram-February%202011-FINAL.pdf

Blueberries – I contacted Dr. Liburd. He recommended the following products and ROTATION:  Delegate (Spinetoram) and Assail (Acetamiprid), and Malathion (diethyl mercaptosuccinate). You should not use any products more than two times in a row and repeat applications every 10-14 days. More information on insecticides labeled for blueberries can be found on the UF-IFAS Blueberry Insect IPM Guide at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS38000.pdf. 

More information about monitoring for thrips in Southern High Bush Blueberries can be found at the following link: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in637.

Nectarines/Peaches – Nectarines are very susceptible to thrips damage. Russetting typically occurs around bloom (yes, we are way beyond that, but populations that I have seen are high). On peaches, silvering (damage) may occur as the red blush develops.  SpinTor (spinosad) or Delegate (spinetoram) must be rotated with other insecticides as both of these are from the same chemical class. Danitol (Fenpropathrin) is a broad spectrum insecticide and will reduce your beneficial as well as target pests. Read the label to ensure you are choosing a product that has a PHI that meets your needs. More information on insecticides labeled for stonefruits can be found at the Southeast Stonefruit Pest Management Guide (http://www.ent.uga.edu/peach/peachguide.pdf) or UF-IFAS Peach Insect IPM Guide at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig075.

Vegetables – Please consult the correct commodity chapter in the Vegetable Production Guide, which can be found here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vph.  

Thrips readily develop resistance to insecticides so it is VERY important that chemical classes are ROTATED.

If you need monitoring tools for thrips (i.e. hand lens and sticky cards), please let me know. I have a small supply of these items available.