1. JOE FUNDERBURK, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA,
Applying Ecological Knowledge: Vertically Integrated IPM Using Thrips, Tospoviruses, and Vegetables As An Example
Photo Cheryle O’Donnell

2. PEST STATUS OF INVASIVE FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS
Certain biological characteristics aid successful invasion where it causes extensive crop damage, vectors viral diseases, and permanently destabilizes IPM systems owing to irruptive outbreaks that require remediation with insecticides, leading to the development of insecticide resistance…
Morse and Hoddle Annual Review of Entomology

3. IPM for the practitioner encompasses the simultaneous management of multiple pests, regular monitoring of pests and their natural enemies or antagonists, use of economic thresholds when applying pesticides, and integrated use of multiple suppressive tactics… Ehler Pest Management Science 62:
Vertical IPM: integration of multiple, compatible tactics to control one group of pests such as arthropods or pathogens or weeds
Horizontal IPM: integration of multiple, compatible tactics to control more than one group of pests

4. EXTENSION GROUP of THRIPS/VERTICAL IPM ACTION TEAM Joe Funderburk, Norm Leppla, Phil Stansly, Oscar Liburd, Lance Osborne, Greg Nuessly, Catherine Mannion, Hugh Smith, Steven Arthurs, Amanda Hodges, Dave Schuster, Susan Webb, Dak Seal, Alicia Whidden, Crystal Snodgrass, Dan Mullens, David Sui, Gene McAvoy, Lester Muralles, Mary Lamberts, Waldy Klassen, Silvia Shives, Mary Beth Henry, Lelan Parker, Juanita Popenoe, Bill Schall, Alex Bolques, Gary Knox, Steve Olson, Jim Price
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Increase profitability of farming
Assure availability of pesticides
Increase growers adopting UF IPM Program
Increase growers who vertically integrate management of pests

5. MANAGEMENT/VERTICALLY INTEGRATED PROGRAMS FOR THRIPS AND TOSPOVIRUSES IN FLORIDA
PEPPER & EGGPLANT
TOMATO
BLUEBERRY
STRAWBERRY Jim Price, Joe Funderburk others developing
GREEN BEAN Greg Nuessly others developing
CUCURBITS Susan Webb, Dak Seal developing
ORNAMENTALS Steve Arthurs, Lance Osborne

6. Tomato spotted wilt virus symptoms on pepper
Flecking on pepper
due to feeding by
western flower thrips

7. POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THRIPS IN COMMERCIAL PEPPER IN SOUTH FLORIDA
PALM BEACH COUNTY 1995/96
PALM BEACH COUNTY 2006/07
Frantz & Mellinger Florida Entomologist 92:29-34.

8. ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL, & SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS FOR THRIPS AND TOSPOVIRUSES IN VEGETABLES
Define pest status (economic thresholds)
Increase biotic resistance (natural enemies and competition)
Integrate preventive and therapeutic tactics (scout, uv-reflective technology, biological control, insecticides, companion plants, fertility, irrigation, etc.)
Vertically integrate program for thrips (focus management on pest complex rather than individual pests)
Continuously improve program and communicate knowledge (research, EDIS pubs, website, farm demonstrations, meetings, assess implementation and benefits)

9. Predator-Prey Ratio Management Guides
Capacity of minute pirate bugs, Orius insidiosus, to reduce thrips populations
Photo Joe Funderburk
Predator-Prey Ratio Management Guides
1 predator per about 180 thrips = population suppression
1 predator per 50 thrips = control
So if we can alter the predator – prey ratio, we can suppress thrips populations quickly and persistantly

10. PEPPER Thrips per flower Pirate bugs per flower May & June 1996
F. occidentalis adults
thrips larvae
Orius 50
PEPPER
0.8
fenpropathrin 40 30
0.4 20 10
0.0
0.8 12
spinosad
per flower
Thrips per flower 8
0.4 4
Pirate bugs
0.0
0.8 12
untreated 8
0.4 4
0.0
May & June 1996
Funderburk, Stavisky &Olson 2000

11. INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION
Interspecific competition and population dynamics of thrips on crop and uncultivated hosts. Frankliniella occidentalis and Thrips palmi are out-competed by native species of thrips.
Paini, Funderburk, & Reitz Journal of Animal Ecology 77:
Paini, Funderburk, Jackson,&Reitz Journal of Entomological Science 42:
Northfield, Paini, Funderburk, & Reitz Annals of the Entomological Society of America 101:

12. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEPPER & EGGPLANT http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN401
In scouting program, distinguish between adult and larval thrips and identify adult thrips to species
Economic thresholds: about 6 western flower thrips per flower and about 2 thrips larvae per fruit (identifying species of larvae is not necessary-all equally damaging)
Do not treat for Florida flower thrips and eastern flower thrips as they outcompete western flower thrips
When peppers are flowering, use insecticides for thrips and other pests that conserve minute pirate bugs
When peppers are flowering and early fruit set, do not use insecticides that induce western flower thrips
Use ultraviolet-reflective mulch when forming beds
Sunflower and other refugia to provide a source for minute pirate bugs
Vertically integrate management of thrips and other pests including pepper weevil and lepidoptera
Follow BMP’s for fertility and water management

13. INSECTICIDES FOR WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS IN FRUITING VEGETABLES
Radiant ® Good control of adults & larvae-minimize applications to 2 per season
Assail ® & Torac® Control of adults & larvae-broad spectrum-do not use during flowering & early fruit set
Cyazypyr ® Suppression or in rotation with other insecticides (label expected late 2012/early 2013)
Beleaf ® Suppression or in rotation with other insecticides
Movento ® Suppression especially after 2 applications (must use with Induce ® nonionic wetter/spreader adjuvant)
Requiem ® Suppression especially after 2 applications
Lannate ® Control of adults & larvae-broad spectrum-do not use during flowering and early fruit set
M-Pede ® & EcoTrol ® Weak suppression

14. INSECTICIDES THAT CONSERVE MINUTE PIRATE BUGS http://edis. ifas. ufl
SPINOSYNS thrips and other pests
REQUIEM thrips, aphids, whiteflies
SPIROTETRAMAT thrips, aphids, whiteflies
CYAZYPYR thrips, aphids, whiteflies, and other pests
FLONICAMID thrips, aphids, whiteflies, and other pests
M-PEDE thrips, aphids, whiteflies, spidermites
METHOXYFENOXIDE lepidoptera
INDOXACARB lepidoptera
Bt’s lepidoptera, coleoptera
ECOTROL thrips, aphids, whiteflies
AZADIRACHTIN various taxa
CYROMAZINE Dipteran leafminers
FENBUTATIN mites
PYMETRAZINE whiteflies, aphids

15. INSECTICIDES KNOWN TO INDUCE WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS & MELON THRIPS
Synthetic Pyrethroids are strong inducers (never use)
Neonicotinoids sometimes have some inducing effect (careful use)
Broad-spectrum carbamates and organophosphates should be avoided generally

16. Vertically integrated management scheme for thrips and other pests in pepper
INSECTICIDES FOR NON-THRIPS PESTS BEFORE FLOWERING
Therapeutic control with insecticides that are short residual, especially those not systemic
INSECTICIDES FOR NON-THRIPS PESTS DURING FLOWERING
Therapeutic control with insecticides that conserve Orius
INSECTICIDES FOR NON-THRIPS PESTS DURING FRUITING
Therapeutic control with labeled insecticides
INSECTICIDES FOR THRIPS DURING FLOWERING
Rotate insecticides for therapeutic control with insecticides that conserve Orius
Radiant, Beleaf, Requiem, Movento (Cyazypyr in 2012/2013)
INSECTICIDES FOR THRIPS DURING FRUITING
No more than 2 applications during the same season of insecticides from the same chemical class
Radiant, Assail, Beleaf, Requiem, Movento, Lannate Torac (Cyazypyr in 2012/2013)

18. Dimples on tomato due to oviposition of Frankliniella occidentalis
Flecking on tomato
due to feeding by
Frankliniella occidentalis
Ring spots and fruit
deformity from tomato
spotted wilt infection

19. Recommendations for western flower thrips in tomato http://edis. ifas
Distinguish between adult and larval thrips and identify adult thrips to species
Economic thresholds: about 1 western flower thrips per flower and about 2 larvae per fruit
Do not treat for Florida flower thrips and eastern flower thrips as they outcompete western flower thrips
Alternate between efficacious insecticides
Avoid using insecticides that induce western flower thrips populations
Use Ultraviolet-reflective mulch and other technologies
Vertically integrate management program for thrips with management of other pests and diseases including whiteflies and Lepidoptera, and whitefly-vectored viruses and other tomato diseases
Follow BMP’s for fertility and water management

20. CROP FERTILITY AND POPULATIONS OF FRANKLINIELLA OCCIDENTALIS
Number per tomato flower
Stavisky, Funderburk, Brodbeck, Olson, & Andersen J. Economic Entomology

21. THRIPS HOST PLANT DETECTION & SELECTION Terry. 1997
THRIPS HOST PLANT DETECTION & SELECTION Terry Host Selection, Communication, & Reproductive Behavior, In Thrips As Crop Pests (Lewis, Ed.) CAB INTERNATIONAL
THRIPS LOCATE HOSTS USING COLOR, SHAPE, SIZE, & VOLATILES WITH ANTHOPHILOUS THRIPS ATTRACTED TO LOW UV WHITES, YELLOWS, AND BLUES
ONCE A POTENTIAL HOST IS CONTACTED THEN ODOR, TACTILE, & GUSTATORY CUES PREDOMINATE

22. COMMERCIAL UV-REFLECTIVE PRODUCTS AS TACTICS FOR ARTHROPOD MANAGEMENT
Plastic mulches (many products from multiple sources for farm or garden with varying levels of UV-reflectance)
UV-reflective barriers and repellents (many products for many uses such as greenhouse covers, row covers, tubes, etc.)
Kaolin clay (Surround ® WP, Engelhard Corp.) multiple modes of action including UV-reflectance

23. BLACK & UV-REFLECTIVE MULCHES
RAISED-BED PLASTIC MULCH SYSTEM
TYPICAL IN CONVENTIONAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA

24. KAOLIN CLAY-SURROUND®

25. SPRING TOMATOES, NORTH FLORIDA 2011 COURTESY KARA TYLER-JULIAN

26. SPRING TOMATOES, NORTH FLORIDA 2011 COURTESY KARA TYLER-JULIAN

27. Tomato spotted wilt virus DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY
PRIMARY SPREAD-TRANSMITTING THRIPS ADULTS ACQUIRED VIRUS AS LARVAE BY FEEDING ON PLANTS GROWING OUTSIDE FIELD
SECONDARY SPREAD-ADDITIONAL CYLCES WHERE ACQUISITION BY THRIPS LARVAE AND TRANSMISSION BY THRIPS ADULTS OCCURS BY FEEDING ON PLANTS WITHIN THE SAME CROP FIELD

28. SPREAD OF Tomato spotted wilt virus IN NORTHERN FLORIDA TOMATOES
Secondary infection 28%
Primary infection 72%
Momol et al Plant Disease 88:

29. % Incidence of Tomato Spotted Wilt As Affected By UV-Reflective Mulch & Insecticides for Thrips Control in North Florida Tomatoes
Momol, Olson, Funderburk, Stavisky, Marois Plant Disease

31. Role of Ultraviolet-Reflective Products for Managing Western Flower Thrips and Tomato Spotted Wilt in Fruiting Vegetables
Highly-reflective UV mulch reduces western flower thrips until mid-season
Foliar-applied kaolin suppresses western flower thrips
UV-reflective technologies affect other insect groups including natural enemies such as minute pirate bugs
UV-reflective technologies reduce primary and secondary spread of tomato spotted wilt by repelling the thrips vectors capable of transmitting Tomato spotted wilt virus
Complete recommendations for tomato
Complete recommendations for pepper and eggplant

32. Tactics useful in managing primary and secondary spread of tomato spotted wilt virus and other tospovirus species
PRIMARY SPREAD SECONDARY SPREAD
Resistant cultivars Resistant cultivars
 UV-reflective technologies UV-reflective technologies
 SAR inducer SAR inducer
 Optimal fertility Optimal fertility
  Insecticides for suppression of thrips larvae

33. Insecticide management scheme for western flower thrips and tospoviruses
Preflowering
Thrips are not damaging
Insecticides do not control primary spread tospovirus
Flowering
Dimples, flecking
Alternate insecticides
Rotate Radiant, Assail, Beleaf, Requiem, Movento, Lannate Torac
(Cyazypyr in 2012/2013)
Fruitiung
Flecking, secondary spread tospovirus

34. SPRING SWEET PEPPERS SOUTH FLORIDA 2011 COURTESY KARA TYLER-JULIAN

35. PLANTS AS SOURCES & SINKS OF ARTHROPOD POPULATIONS
Refugium: plants that provide habitat for arthropod populations especially natural enemies to avoid changes in crop especially pesticides
Companion Plant: plants grown in proximity to crop that assists in pest management
Banker Plant: plants used to introduce an established population of a natural enemy to a crop
Trap Crop: plants that attract agricultural pests away from nearby crops

36. Push/Pull Strategies Using Companion Plants and UV-Reflecting Technologies
Bidens near tomato
Helianthus near pepper

37. Cultural methods of thrips management
Intercrop types
Refugium-Plants used to provide habitat for arthropods to avoid crop changes such as pesticides
Companion plants- Plants grown near crops that assist the crops in some way i.e. pest management
Banker Plants- Intercrops used for establishing natural predators
Trap crops-Intercrops that are more attractive to pests than the crop
2011 Tomato trials North Florida
Number per 1 flower
Number per 1 flower
2011 Pepper trials South Florida
Efficacy of cultural methods
-UV reflective mulch most effective at beginning of season
-Kaolin clay most effective middle-end of season
-Companion plants most effective at middle-end of season.
-Bidens alba: banker crop/refugium for minute pirate bugs on tomatoes.
-Sunflower: banker crop, trap crop, refugium for peppers.
-Bidens alba and tomatoes: poor reproductive hosts for thrips
-Peppers and sunflowers: good reproductive hosts for thrips
Number per 1 flower
Number per 1 flower

38. OUTCOMES/IMPACTS-2007 TO PRESENT
Field Demonstrations-NFREC (5), GCREC (1), PALM BEACH COUNTY (2), HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (2)
Publications-BOOK CHAPTERS (1), REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES (5), EDIS ARTICLES (5), TRADE JOURNALS (4)
Workshops & In-Service Trainings-INTERNATIONAL (19), NATIONAL (3), FLORIDA/COUNTY (19 TOTAL-955 PARTICIPANTS)
Thrips Website-50,000 DOWNLOADS IN 2010; 7,725 HITS EDIS PUBLICATIONS 2010
Effective, Economical, Sustainable IPM Programs-
90% GROWERS SURVEYED GAINED KNOWLEDGE
85% GROWERS SURVEYED ADOPTED IPM PROGRAM
INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE MONITORING SHOWED RESISTANT THRIPS POPULATIONS RETURNING TO SUSCEPTIBILITY
PALM BEACH COUNTY PEPPER GROWERS SAVED $28.8 MILLION IN 2010 IN YIELD GAINS AND REDUCED PESTICIDE USE