Foliar application of Steinernema feltiae for the control of flower thrips.

Results of a programme, continued from 2000, of weekly commercial foliar applications of entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of western flower thrips, are presented. The programme was extended to include two, year-round crops of pot chrysanthemums and one crop of year-round Saintpaulias. From January to May 2001, the nematodes continued to give good control, particularly by reducing numbers of female thrips. In one case, attempts were made to reduce rates of nematodes to make the technique more competitive with the costs of chemical insecticide programmes, and the technique was also adapted to counter the effects on thrips of artificial lighting. Programmes successfully allowed the integration of dichlorvos low-volume applications to regulate thrips numbers in open flowers, which were never treated with the nematode sprays in order to prevent water deposits on the petals.