- 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 San Joaquin Valley. In the Kings Co. area generation 3 adults peaked on June 1st and generation 4 adults will peak around June 20th. TSWV incidence is still low so the the next 2 - 3 weeks are an ideal period for insecticide application if you are considering treatment for thrips/TSWV. Spraying at this time will reduce numbers of generation 4 thrips particularly and help to check the spread of any TSWV that is already present in fields.
Recently planted crops are at most risk from TSWV because thrips numbers are already high and the virus is most damaging when plants are infected while still young.