- Author: Neil McRoberts
Temperatures are predicted to peak at 100+ F at the end of this week before returning to the high 80s F early next week. Thrips will develop rapidly under these conditions.
Thrips numbers are now high throughout the southern Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley. In the Yolo/Colusa area generation 3 adults are projected to peak today and generation 4 adults will peak around June 27th. TSWV incidence is still low so the the next 3 weeks are an ideal period for insecticide application if you are considering treatment for thrips/TSWV. Spraying at this time will reduce egg laying by generation 3 and will reduce generation 4 thrips.
Recently planted crops will be most at risk from spread of TSWV because the impact of the disease is greater the younger the plants are at the time of infection.