Frankliniella spp.
Pest description and crop damage Small, slender, quick-moving insects about 0.1 inch long. The insect's economic impact in alfalfa seed production is unknown.
Management-chemical control
Most programs using insecticides to control other injurious insects will reduce thrips populations. Chemical control generally is not recommended solely for thrips because populations rebound dramatically to pretreatment levels.
- Beauveria bassiana strain GHA (BotaniGard WP) at 0.22 to 0.44 lb ai/A in 100 gal. PHI 0 days. This product is potentially pathogenic to honeybees. Avoid applying to areas where honeybees are actively foraging or around beehives. Drift and runoff may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in water adjacent to treated areas. Typically, it takes 7 to 10 days after the first spray to see control. Apply at 5- to 10-day intervals for low to normal pest pressure. For high pest pressure, especially aphids, apply at 2- to 5-day intervals. Repeat applications for as long as pest pressure persists. There is no limit on the number of applications or total amount of product that can be applied in one season.