Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in citrus nursery: Seasonal incidence, damage and insecticide treatments to reduce infestation

The present investigation was conducted at ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur during 2023-24. The study on seasonal incidence of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis in relation to meteorological parameters showed two peaks, first in 47th SMW and second in 17th SMW and correlation was positive with maximum temperature, minimum temperature and bright sunshine hours and their damage symptoms caused by showed curling and distortion of leaves and characteristic symptom of S. dorsalis was silvery streaks on the leaves parallel to the midvein. The insecticide experiment was framed in Randomized Block Design with eight treatments comprises Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (T1), Cyantraniliprole 10.26% OD (T2), Diafenthiuron 50% WP (T3), Abamectin 1.9% EC (T4), Fenpropathrin 30% EC (T5), Spinosad 45% SC (T6), Spinetoram 11.7% SC (T7) and untreated control (T8). The results revealed that the lowest thrips population was recorded in the treatment of Spinetoram 11.7% SC. It was followed by the treatment of Spinosad 45% SC, Imidacloprid 17.8% SL, Cyantraniliprole 10.26% OD, Diafenthiuron 50% WP, Fenpropathrin 30% EC and Abamectin 1.9% EC. The untreated recorded the highest population of thrips. Hence, Spinetoram Spinetoram 11.7% SC and Spinosad 45% SC proved to be the best treatments to reduce the infestation of thrips.