Thrips pressure is moderate to high on multiple crops in southwest Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Infestations are moderate to high on tomato, moderate on pepper and eggplant and low potato and watermelon.
Populations are low in beans but increasing in certain areas.
Thrips numbers had begun to increase in beans along the east coast, but populations decreased again following the cold weather and possibly due to insecticide sprays. Low to moderate western flower thrips populations were observed in some pepper fields.
Population levels are generally moderate to high on tomato in Homestead, Florida. Common blossom thrips and western flower thrips infestations are low on tomato. Melon thrips (average of 2 to 5 per leaf) and Asian bean thrips (average of 3 to 5 per leaf) are reported at high levels in beans.
Melon thrips are also being seen at high levels in cucurbits.
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