The Efficacy of Several Biorational Insecticides to Control Western Flower Thrips in Marigold (2013)

Marigold plants (“Discovery Yellow”) were grown from seed, individually potted, and placed into two large exclusion cages for artificial infestation. Five weeks after planting, plants were infested with thrips by releasing 50 females and 50 males into each cage, five times (18, 21, and 28 October; 4 and 18 November) for a total of 1,000 WFT. On 2 December, all plants were treated with Floramite SC (4 oz/100 gal) to control a mite infestation. On December 6 (week 0), WFT infested marigold plants were divided into groups of six and placed randomly inside 18-inch diameter by 30-inch tall cylinder cages. The cages were made of Lexan polycarbonate sheeting with two 8-inch holes on opposing sides …