What’s Lurking In The Field? A late-season foe came early in 2021, and a new miticide looks promising for control. By Amanda Huber
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hrips were prevalent in many fields of late Apriland May-planted peanuts. University of Georgia Extension entomologist Mark Abney says thrips injury varied in severity from minor feeding scars on fully expanded leaflets to severely deformed or dead terminal buds. As to whether a foliar insecticide should be used, Abney says, “Most of the time I do not think an insecticide application at four weeks after planting will pay for itself; however, if peanut terminals are being severely injured, immature thrips are still present, and the plants are experiencing drought and/or herbicide stress, treatment might be warranted. “In my experience, thrips injury typically peaks around 30
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THE PEANUT GROWER • JULY 2021
days after planting. After that, thrips numbers tend to decline, peanut growth increases rapidly and we forget about thrips for another year.” It is tomato spotted wilt virus, Abney says, that is transmitted by thrips which is the more serious problem. “Fields planted after May 10 that were treated with phorate (Thimet) will be at reduced risk compared to earlier planted fields with no at-plant insecticide or with a different one. It is important to remember that foliar insecticide sprays will not reduce the risk of TSWV in peanut.” Treat At Threshold Dry conditions in May also set fields up for pests such as lesser cornstalk borer, Abney says. “In June and beyond, LCB is the most common and severe PEANUTGROWER.COM
