Control of Melon Thrips on Pepper, Spring, 1994

The experiment was conducted in a 0.4 ha field of rockdale soil located in Homestead, FL. ‘Jalapeno’ pepper transplants were set in the field onto raised black polyethylene mulch covered beds following recommended cultural practices on 20 Mar 1994. Beds were 71.1 cm wide and spaced 139.5 cm apart from center to center. The field was cultivated weekly to clean weeds between the rows. Fertilizer was applied in kg/ha at 366 N, 732 P, 732 K on two dates; at planting and 4 wk after planting. The field was irrigated by drip system at weekly intervals delivering approximately 5 cm depth. Plots were 4 rows each 7.6 m long. Eight treatments were arranged in randomized complete blocks with 4 replications. Chemicals were applied on 15, 23, 30 May, and 5 Jun 1994 with a backpack sprayer using 2 nozzles/row delivering 124 gal/ha at 40 psi. Treatments were evaluated by randomly collecting a sample of 25 leaves from the center of two middle rows of each treatment 24 h after each insecticide application. Leaf samples were placed separately in one-liter plastic cups and transported to the laboratory. Thrips were separated from the leaves by washing with 70% ethanol, and the number of adults and larvae in each sample were recorded.