Tripline Advanced Monitoring System
The monitoring of pest population density and its antagonist population is one of the most important factors determining the long-term success of plant protection in glass-covered ground. That is why the development and the optimization of monitoring tools are an important aspect for growers.
Usually sticky traps covered with dry adhesive (sticker) are used for the monitoring of pest population. Blue sticky traps are suitable and important tools for the monitoring of thrips populations in covered ground. They can be applied for vegetable and ornamental crops providing growers with necessary information about current situation concerning pest population. The degree of capture depends on population density and temperature which exerts influence on activity and reproductive potential. Moreover the attractiveness of traps is concerned with attractiveness of other surrounding factors i.e. the more attractive environmental conditions the less number of thirps adheres to a trap. Several thrips species can be present in greenhouse conditions (Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci, Echinothrips americanus, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis). Therefore it is possible the situation when the mixture of thrips is caught on the sticky trap and it is impossible to define species composition reliably by the efforts of enterprise staff (the support of specialized establishments or experienced specialists is necessary). As a result of the mentioned situation the system of crop protection and the terms of fulfillment of necessary measures are chosen not always correctly.
Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) is one of the most dangerous species in greenhouses especially it concerns the injuries of ornamental crops. It is difficult to detect the species in the initial stages of infestation because of its hidden behavior and it is also not easy to determine the optimal time for conducting of protective measures. Therefore the early detection and the proper estimation of pest population density are very important for the realization of practical actions in the sphere of crop protection against the early stages of thrips population development.
Product description.
Recommendations for use.
Thripline AMS is a patented product containing artificially synthesized sexual attractant of the species Frankliniella occidentalis. The product is supplied in the form of polymeric lures impregnated with attractant. It has hermetic foil-coated package and consists of 10 lures. Additionally the product can be supplemented with blue sticky traps (10×25 cm) and dry adhesive (10 items).
Synthetic sexual attractants are widely applied in agricultural practice against various scale-winged insects (Lepidoptera). In natural conditions butterfly females effuse pheromone meanwhile males are able to feel pheromone by means of their antennae even under low concentrations and long distances. They orientate by way of concentration gradient until find the source of odour (female). The application of pheromones for male disorientation (male vacuum) and mating disruption are widely spread and effective measures.
It is also known the practical using of many natural and artificial scent substances which can exert direct influence on behavioral peculiarities of different pests (various thrips, whiteflies). The concentration gradient and the high level of evaporation of these matters have considerable influence upon effectiveness of this technology. Thus, the practical using of such technologies is very difficult.
In the process of Thripline AMS application the males of the species Frankliniella occidentalis don't respond to concentration gradient for search of females. The attractant provokes the activation of behavioral reactions. Having felt the odour of the pheromone the individuals of the pest leave their shelters (flower buds, foliage, etc.) and hardly accessible places. There are two cues being used during the mass migration of the species: olfactory (attractant Thripline AMS) and visual (colour sticky trap).
The application of the attractant enables to increase the effectiveness of sticky traps as the main tool of pest numerosity monitoring owing to the opportune detection and the diagnostication of pest population development in early stages. It allows for growers to control thrips population more effectively by means of biological agents or chemical treatments. In accordance with the results of studies the application of the product enables to increase the capture of the pest on sticky traps 2–3 times. The optimal application of the product Thripline AMS is conducted during the early stages of crop development (it enables to identify the presence of the pest in due time). The product is highly specialized for the species Frankliniella occidentalis (influence on other thrips species has been studied not quite enough). Thripline AMS application is recommended in glass-covered ground for all the crops which can be colonized by the purposeful species.
For the monitoring of pest numerosity the product is used in the following manner. In greenhouse conditions diagnostic dry sticky traps are allocated at 30 cm above a crop (it is recommended to apply blue traps because of their most attractiveness for the pest). The protective sheets of paper are removed from the surface of the trap thereafter the lure containing attractive substance is attached to the trap. It is recommended using of rubber gloves to avoid the loss of technological properties of the product. Lure fixation is possible as on the sticky surface (if the adhesive coating of the trap has a high quality) as into the technological hole of the trap. To avoid the penetration of water droplets (through moistening system, overhead irrigation etc.) inside the lure it is recommended to attach the lure to the trap in horizontal position. Otherwise the technological qualities of the product can be decreased. The product is used for monitoring in amount of 1 trap with 1 lure per 100 m2 (100 lures per 1 ha respectively).
Mechanical pest capture can be increased by means of product application in another manner. For this the lures are attached to plastic sticky traps with wet adhesive (size is 7×32cm; 20×40 cm) or to roller traps (size is 0.15×100 m; 0.3×100 m). The density of allocation is 1 lure per 100 m2 (the rate of application is pointed in accordance with the biological peculiarities of the pest).
The product can be used for the increase of the effectiveness of chemical treatments. For 2–3 hours before the performance of chemical treatments the lures are allocated in the greenhouse (the rate of allocation is pointed above) that provokes the increase of activity, as a result of it the more number of the pest incurs insecticide influence. Immediately before treatment the lures are removed and stored in a refrigerator that allows the product to be used several times. It is possible the application of the product through the system of CO2 pipelines.
The expansion of the pest can be local if various crops or their cultivars are present in the greenhouse (there are different concentrations of pest density in certain places). In this case the density of trap allocation can vary towards increase.
The term of effective product application recommended by the producer is 30–45 days. After this term it is necessary to change the lures. To get the reliable information about the presence and the density of the pest it is recommended to make opportune replacement of sticky traps (according to the contamination of sticky surface).
Thripline AMS is recommended for use in the complex programs of plant defense. The product cannot control entirely the population of the species Frankliniella occidentalis in the process of solitary application.
The alternative biological agents against the pest in the integrity system of plant defense are presented by the following species: Orius spp, Amblyseius cucumeris, Hypoaspis miles, Amblyseius swirskii и Amblyseius degenerans.
It is possible the storage of the lures in original, hermetic package in cool conditions at a temperature of 4°C during 1 month. At a temperature of -18°C the product can keep its properties to 2 years. If the impermeability of the package is disrupted the product cannot be stored.
The production and distribution of the product «Thripline AMS» containing attractive substance is realized by the company «Syngenta Bioline» under agreement with Keele University (Great Britain), which holds patent on this technology.
