Evaluation of commercial lures under field conditions for longevity for western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Most thrips enter greenhouses from the surrounding fields through ventilation structures and introduced plant materials. These thrips can be intercepted with a combination of trap plants and semiochemical lures. Preliminary results from field experiments conducted in 2019 indicated that lures may remain attractive for two weeks. In this study, we tested two commercial lures (Thrips-Lure and Thripline) exposed for 28 days, 14 days and 7 days under field conditions at the Pee Dee REC in Florence, South Carolina, in summer 2022. We then performed a series of Y-tube olfactometer experiments to compare thrips behavioral responses in binomial choice tests to the lures. Direction of the Y-tube arm was recorded, along with the thrips choice (lure, blank, combo), and the time to make this decision. Results were analyzed via binomial statistical analysis and indicated no significant difference.