Double-attraction method to control Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in pepper crops in Tunisia

Abstract

Elimem M., Teixeira da Silva J.A., Chermiti B. (2014): Double-attraction method to control Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in pepper crops in Tunisia. Plant Protect. Sci., 50: 90-96.Blue sticky traps with and without pheromone capsules were used to monitor and control Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (1895) (Thysanoptera; Thripidae) in pepper crop greenhouses in Tunisia. Traps containing pheromone capsules could catch significantly more thrips than those without capsules, proving their efficiency in attracting and controlling this pest. In fact, greenhouses with traps with pheromone capsules caught 585.1, 526.7, and 668.8 adults/trap in a greenhouse with 10 traps with pheromone capsules on April 12, 19, and 26, 2012, respectively. The capture in a greenhouse with five traps with pheromone capsules was about 456.2, 412.8, and 431 adults/trap while in a greenhouse with five traps without pheromone capsules, the capture of F. occidentalis adults numbered 198, 257, and 302 adults/trap for the same three dates. Furthermore, traps with pheromone capsules captured males and females in equal numbers while traps without capsules caught much fewer males than females: 218.2 males/trap on April 26, 2012 in a greenhouse with five traps with pheromone capsules and 212.8 females/trap, 322.4 males/trap, and 342.3 females/trap in a greenhouse with 10 traps with pheromone capsules. In neither case were the differences significant. In contrast, in a greenhouse with five traps without pheromone capsules, the number of adults was about 88.6 males/trap, a significantly lower amount than the number of females/trap (213.4). This indicates that this pheromone plays a double role as a sex pheromone and as an aggregation pheromone by attracting both sexes. In fact, this double attraction approach improved the efficiency of these capsules by preventing the mating of untrapped females with males. This induced a high percentage of males and led to a decline in the thrips population on pepper flowers. Ten blue sticky traps with pheromone capsules reduced the thrips population more effectively in one week only than the use of five sticky traps, which took two weeks to achieve the control.

PRELIMINARY STUDYON THE CONTROL OF WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS, Frankliniella occidentalis (PERGANDE)IN PEPPER CROP GREEN HOUSES IN QALYUBIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT.

“…While blue sticky traps at 20 traps/greenhouse were installed only in G3starting from July 2 nd week for both seasons to accelerate the efficiency of foliage sprays against WFT attacks on pepper flowers. Elimem et al (2014) mentioned that, the control of WFT is possible by various means even though this pest is usually controlled by insecticides. However, this pest is able to acquire some resistance to several insecticide families, making chemical treatments ineffective.…”

“…However, it has spread to many countries around the world since the 1970's (Anonymous 2002;Kirk & Terry 2003). In Tunisia, WFT is still considered to be a quarantine pest following its introduction in the early 1990's due to indirect damage caused by the transmission of viruses such as Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and impatiens necrotic spot wilt virus (INSWV) (Elimem et al 2014). WFT is a polyphagous thrips species that may attack a large range of plant species belonging to several botanical families (Belharrath et al 1994;Kirk 2001;Kirk & Terry 2003;Cloyd 2009).…”

Semiochemicals Associated with the Western Flower Thrips Attraction: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Therefore, some studies integrate chemical control with pheromones [ 64 ] or improve biological control with predators [ 22 , 65 , 66 ]. However, the most frequent use of pheromones is related to trapping for monitoring purposes [ 23 , 46 , 52 , 67 , 68 ].…”

Assessment of Chrysoperla comanche (Banks) and Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) as Biological Control Agents of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under Glasshouse Conditions

“…This strategy has been implemented to maintain a population of predatory mites, by introducing plants to supply pollen and lab reared mites as prey for the predatory mites when the thrips population in the glasshouse is low or totally absent [13]. Lacewings can be used in an IPM (Integrated Plant Management) system for F. occidentalis [41] including the use of colored traps lured with sex [42,43] or aggregation pheromones [44][45][46].…”