Mechanical Pesticide for Thrips Control in Cotton

With increased concerns about neonicotoid resistance to tobacco thrips and the use of chemical control agents in cotton in general (currently essential for many cotton arthropod pests) and beause of the growing interest in the use of biobased control methods, we investigated the use of a mineral based product as a killing agent for tobacco thrips.  The results were surprising, rapid kill was possible under different enviornmental conditions.  Our preliminary work on this new control method for thrips will be discussed.