Evaluation of foliar insecticides for the control of Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on onion field

Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is the main pest of onion. Chemical control is the most adopted method for this pest, however, there are few efficient products registered for thrips control in onion. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of six insecticides (abamectin + thiamethoxam, formetanate hydrochloride, spinetoram, fenitrothion + esfenvalerate, imidacloprid and thiacloprid) were tested for the control of onion thrips T. tabaci on onion in Itajaí Valley, SC during 2020. The insecticides were sprayed eight times at intervals of about seven days, we evaluated the number of nymph of thrips per plant 24 hours after two consecutive sprays and total onion bulb production. Significant differences were observed between various insecticides evaluated. The treatments formetanate hydrochloride and spinetoram proved the best thrips control however spinetoram did not differ from abamectin + thiaclooxam, fenitrothione + esfenvalerate and imidacloprid. Total bulb yield was higher for spinetoram, formetanate hydrochloride, abamectin + thiamethoxam and imidacloprid.