Evaluation of semiochemicals for their potential application in mass trapping of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) in roses

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is an important insect pest of greenhouse roses. Trials were carried out in glasshouse grown roses with the commercially available thrips lures ThripLine ams (male sex aggregation pheromone) and Lurem-TR (kairomone) with yellow sticky traps to evaluate their efficacy as part of a monitoring and mass trapping strategy against F. occidentalis. In all trials, 1.2-4 times more F. occidentalis were caught on traps baited with pheromones compared to unbaited traps. More females were caught in both pheromone baited and unbaited traps than males. Lurem-TR was equivalent to ThripLine ams, except in one of the five trials where more F. occidentalis were caught. Use of commercially produced lures with sticky traps for mass trapping thrips pests in glasshouse grown crops as part of the integrated management are discussed.