POPULATION FLUCTUATION AND TOXICITY OF SOME INSECTICIDES AGAINST ONION THRIPS (THRIPS TABACI LINDERMANN) UNDER FIELD CONDITION IN PESHAWAR

Abstract

Thrips tabaci Lindermann is a major pest of onion crop. Population fluctuation and efficacy of different insecticides were tested against thrips on onion bulb crop in 2011. Pest appeared in second week of February and reached to its peak in last week of April, 65 thrips/ plant. Four insecticides 1) Thiodan 35EC@ 800 ml/acre, 2) Confidor 20%SL @80 ml/acre, 3) Curacron 500EC @500 mL/ acre and 4) Actara 25 WG @ 50 g/acre were applied twice (March and April). The first application of insecticide was made when thrips reached to Economic threshold level (ETL) and second application was made of 25 days of the first application. Three insecticides showed significantly better results than untreated check in reducing pest population. In two spray applications Thiodan and Curacron were found best among the four insecticides. Minimum infestation was recorded in plot treated with Thiodan and Curacon as compared to control. However Actara 25 WG was not effective in reducing the pest population in both applications.