Chemical control of Frankliniella occidentalis
Since the arrival of Frankliniella occidentalis (EPPO A2 pest) in the UK in 1986, the pest has spread rapidly throughout the glasshouse industry of the country. The lack of entirely reliable control methods, either biological or chemical, has led to studies in laboratory and greenhouse experiments of the efficiency of 51 UK registered pesticides against the thrips.
It was found that malathion proved to be the most potent chemical for the control of F. occidentalis on a wide range of horticultural crops. In the laboratory experiments it caused a mean kill of 99.6%, 99.5% and 99.9% 72 h after the application of the compound to larvae, pupae and adults, respectively. In the greenhouse experiments malathion gave a significantly better control of Western flower thrips then other tested products.
Sources
Helyer, N.L.; Brobyn, P.J. (1992) Chemical control of Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergrande).
Annals of Applied Biology 121, 219-231.