Thrips in Chilli Crop: How to Identify, Prevent & Manage Thrips Attack Effectively

Thrips in Chilli Crop: How to Identify, Prevent & Manage Thrips Attack Effectively

Telugu name: Thamara purugulu

Scientific name: Scirtothrips dorsalis

Identification of pest:

Nymph (young stage):

  • Very small and thin.
  • Body is delicate and can break easily.
  • Light yellow in color.

Adult (grown stage):

  • Wings have a fringed or hairy edge, like tiny feathers.


Life cycle:

  • The life cycle is brief, taking 15 to 20 days, and there are up to 25 overlapping generations annually. Both sexual and partheno-generic reproduction are possible.
  • The life cycle stages of Scirtothrips dorsalis include egg, first and second instar larvae, prepupa, pupa and adult. 
  1. Egg: In plant tissues, females deposit their eggs. Because they are so little, eggs are hard to find.
  2. Nymphs: Light yellow as they hatch, nymphs consume the sap of plants.The most harmful stage is this one.
  3. Pupa: Thrips pupate in plant detritus or soil.
  4. Adults: Adults are small (1-2 mm), slender insects with fringed wings. They are highly mobile and spread quickly.

SYMPTOMS:

  • Generally they attack tender leaves and growing shoots. Rarely the older leaves are attacked.
  • Sometimes even the buds and flowers are attacked. 
  • Their damage results in the infested leaves curling upward, crumbling and shedding.
  • Silvering of the leaf surface.
  • Infested buds turning brittle with petiole becoming brown and dropping down.
  •  Affected fruits showing light brown scars.


FAVORABLE CONDITIONS 

  • Thrips prefer high temperatures (between 25 and 30°C).
  • Dry Weather: Dry conditions reduce natural predators and allow thrips to multiply.
  • Dense Planting: Overcrowding provides a favorable environment for thrips.

Economic Threshold Level (ETL)

Control measures should be initiated if:

  • More than 10 thrips per leaf are observed.
  • Visible symptoms of leaf curl or discoloration appear.


MANAGEMENT

  • Seed treatment with imidacloprid @ 3 -5 g/kg of seed.

 

Cultural Practices

  • Crop Rotation: Avoid planting successive chilli crops or related crops like onions. And Do not grow chilli after sorghum – more susceptible to thrips.
  • Remove weeds that serve as alternate hosts for thrips.
  • To lower humidity in the canopy, make sure the plants are spaced appropriately.
  • Blue or yellow sticky traps are useful for monitoring population levels. 
  • Use neem-based products (such as azadirachtin or neem oil) instead of synthetic insecticides since they are safer.

 

Biological control

  • Introduce natural predators such as lacewings (Chrysoperla spp.) and ladybird beetles.
  • Use biocontrol agents like Beauveria bassiana or Verticillium lecanii, fungal pathogens effective against thrips.

Chemical Control

  • Use systemic and contact insecticides like Imidacloprid, Spinosad.
  • For effective control of thrips we can use bio pesticides like Dr.Eliminator 250ml/acre.
  • To target active thrips, apply insecticides in the early morning or late at night.

FAQ’S

1.How do thrips damage chilli plants?
Thrips feed on plant sap, causing leaves to curl and flowers to drop. They also transmit viral diseases like chilli leaf curl virus, reducing yields.

2.What are natural ways to control thrips in chilli?
Use neem oil sprays, introduce natural predators like ladybugs, or plant trap crops like marigolds nearby to attract and manage thrips.

3.Are there chemical solutions for controlling thrips?
For effective control of thrips we can use bio pesticides like Dr.Eliminator 250ml/acre.

4.When are thrips most active in chilli plants?
Thrips thrive in warm, dry conditions, often during the summer. Monitor your chilli plants closely during these periods for early intervention.

5.How can I minimize the risk of thrips transmitting viruses?
Control thrips early to prevent them from spreading viruses. Use virus-resistant chilli varieties and remove infected plants promptly.

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