Evaluation of insecticides and botanicals against Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (L.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (L) is a key pest of onion and their control is vital to the production and profitability of this crop. If onion thrips are not controlled, damage can routinely reduce bulb yields by 23-85%. Most onion fields need protection against thrips for two to three months and multiple applications are required to control infestations, but there are few labeled insecticides that provide effective and consistent control. Therefore, the present study was conducted in two locations viz. Ambo and Guder, Western Shewa of Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia. A factorial experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications to evaluate the effect of insecticides (Cutter 112 E.C TM and Triger 5% E.CTM) and botanicals (Azadirachta indica L. and Dodonae angustifolia L.) on onion thrips on farmers cultivated filed. The results of the study revealed that the newly introduced both insecticides gave promising mortality rate and not significantly (P<0.001) different compared with the standard check previously registered (Diazinon 60 E.CTM) and highly significant (P<0.001) different from the untreated check. The botanicals, A. indica and D. angustifolia, fresh leaf extracts with foliar application gave promising mortality rate used as alternative control measures of onion thrips, while the combination of two botanicals were found less effective as compared with other treatments but significantly different from untreated check. From this study, we concluded that the newly introduced insecticides Cutter 112 E.C TM and Triger 5% E.CTM could be recommended to be registered as alternative insecticides. The two botanicals (A. indica and D. angustifolia) fresh leaf for making bio-pesticide, which are easily available in the surrounding areas, are better option and eco-friendly to adopt for controlling onion thrips in Ethiopia.

Key words: Botanicals, Onion thrips, Evaluation, Efficacy, Mortality, Insecticides.

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