Topics in Subtropics
Article

Citrus Thrips Research You Can Use

  • February 27, 2026
  • By Sandipa Gautam

Field Trial Results You Can Use: Citrus Thrips Insecticide Research are Published on Arthropod Management Tests

By 

Sandipa Gautam

Area Citrus IPM Advisor, UCCE, UCANR

For citrus pest control advisors (PCAs) and growers, in-season citrus thrips decisions depend on reliable, field-validated data. Each year, insecticide efficacy trials conducted at the University of California Lindcove Research and Extension Center are published in the journal Arthropod Management Tests and they are fully open access and free to download.

If you are making citrus thrips management decisions, these reports are a practical, data-driven resource you can use immediately.

What Is Arthropod Management Tests?

Arthropod Management Tests (AMT), published by the Entomological Society of America, is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated specifically to field efficacy trials. Unlike traditional research papers that focus heavily on theory or long-term ecological interpretation, AMT reports are concise and highly practical.

What Has Been Published for Citrus Thrips?

Since 2017, the Lindcove REC team has published multiple citrus thrips insecticide trials covering standard efficacy comparisons, evaluation of new chemistries, organic and reduced-risk options, pre-bloom applications, spray volume trials, and year-to-year performance evaluations. 

These trials represent field-generated data under commercial production conditions, not small laboratory bioassays.

Citrus thrips management continues to evolve due to, variable population pressure across districts, resistance risk and chemistry rotation needs, shifts in spray timing strategies, increasing emphasis on scar-free fruit and marketability. 

Having access to replicated field trial data allows you to, compare relative performance of products, assess consistency across seasons, evaluate spray timing strategies, support treatment decisions with published data, and communicate evidence-based recommendations to clients

For PCAs especially, AMT publications can serve as documentation supporting product performance discussions with growers and regulators.

How to Access Arthropod Management Tests (Free & Open Access)

All AMT articles are open access and free to download. No subscription is required.

Step-by-Step Navigation:

  • Go to the Entomological Society of America website, navigate to Journals and select Arthropod Management Tests. You can use keywords such as citrus thrips or the active ingredient, or a specific year or combination to look for trials from specific year. Click on the article title. Download the PDF directly, no login required. Alternatively, if you have the DOI (Digital Object Identifier), you can paste it directly into your browser, and it will take you straight to the article page.

EXTERNAL IMAGE

Heavy Thrips Pressure

  • Use stronger, high-efficacy materials such as IRAC 28 (Exirel), 28+6 (Minecto Pro), 29 (Beleaf), or 30 (not yet registered in California, has EPA registration).
  • Prioritize fast knockdown and strong residual during the fruit’s susceptible scarring window, especially at petal fall and weeks that follow petal fall.
  • Do not rely on softer materials when populations are well above threshold. Although there is no specific threshold for citrus thrips due to several factors such age of fruit, variety, presence of predatory mites, growing region etc., thrips presence at petal fall, regardless of the numbers, warrants a treatment. Monitor 2x weekly starting at petal fall, pay attention to number of thrips and both adults and immature life stages. Visit citrus thrips monitoring and UCIPM Guidelines.
  • Rotate to a different IRAC group for any follow-up spray avoid back-to-back applications of the same mode of action.

Light to Moderate Thrips Pressure

  • When the pressure is moderate, many products provide Use effective rotational tools such as IRAC 5 (Entrust/Success, Delegate), 6 (Agri-Mek), 23 (Movento), 21A (Bexar), or 9B (where registered). Target early instars and apply based on monitoring, not calendar timing.
  • Group 5 materials can perform well but should be used cautiously and only in rotation due to resistance concerns in the SJV. Consider beneficial preservation and overall IPM program fit when selecting products.

Resistance Considerations (SJV)

  • Research has shown that there is established resistance IRAC 1A, 1B (Carzol SP, Dimethoate), and 3 materials (Baythroid, Danitol), avoid relying on these for thrips control. Resistance to Group 5 (Delegate) has been documented. Rotate by IRAC group, not trade name. Do not use as first application, use only in rotation and avoid repeated use in the same season.
  • Evaluate control based on rind scarring and field performance; uneven control may signal resistance issues.

Below are the links to citrus thrips trials conducted at Lindcove REC from 2017-2025

  1. Effects of insecticide treatments on thrips-induced rind scarring in citrus. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf137
    1. Insecticide efficacy trial on rind scarring caused by citrus thrips, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf020
      1. Insecticide spray volume trial against citrus thrips, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf025
        1. Effects of pre-bloom application of insecticides on rind scarring damage caused by citrus thrips in 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf019
        2. Citrus thrips insecticide efficacy trial, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf021
        3. Citrus thrips insecticide trial, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsae072
        4. Effects of Sabadill-V to reduce severe rind scarring caused by citrus thrips in navel oranges, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsac124
        5. Citrus Thrips Insecticide Trial, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsac121
        6. Citrus Thrips Insecticide Trial, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaa012
        7. Citrus Thrips Insecticide Trial, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsz024
        8. Citrus Thrips Insecticide Trial 1, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsy022
        9. Citrus Thrips Insecticide Trial 2, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsy023
        10. Citrus Thrips Insecticide Trial, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsx046