South African citrus thrips control on mango.
Grové T., Steyn W. P., Beer M. S. de
Author Affiliation: ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa.
Research Journal - South African Mango Growers' Association 24 : 19-21
Abstract : The South African citrus thrips, Scirtothrips aurantii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a pest of mango. Infestation of young mango fruit results in scarring which is not suitable for the export market. Currently, fipronil is the only registered product to control thrips on bearing mango trees. In this study, different products were evaluated for the control of S. aurantii in an orchard at the ITSC Nelspruit Experimental Farm in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, during 1992-96. In the first experiment, the following products were evaluated: fipronil, thiacloprid and kaolin (Surround and Applecote) in combination with sulfur and polysulfide sulfur. Single trees were sprayed and each treatment was repeated five times. All products tested gave control of S. aurantii. Fipronil and thiacloprid tend to cause a build-up of mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). In the second experiment, both kaolin products in combination with sulfur and polysulfide sulfur were sprayed in an orchard at the ITSC Nelspruit Experimental Farm. No A. tubercularis and mealybug build-up was present after a single application.