Biology and Management of Thrips in Watermelon
P. Aishwarya*
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India
M. M. Mawtham
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Integrated pest management, Life cycle, Thrips, Watermelon
Abstract
Watermelon is an important fruit crop grown throughout the world which is mainly preferred for its high nutritive value. The production and productivity of crop is affected by several pest and diseases. One of the important pest which causes major economic loss in watermelon is the melon thrips [Thrips palmi Karny (Order: Thysanoptera, Family: Thripidae)]. The pest affects the crop both direct and indirectly. Indirectly, they transmit major viral diseases to the crop by acting as a vector. They are very minute insects with less than 1 mm size. The life stages include egg, larva, pupa and adult. Management of thrips can be done by cultural, mechanical, botanical, chemical and biological methods as a part of integrated pest management.
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Reference
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