According to UF/IFAS, scouts in south Hendry County detected the highest populations of Asian bean thrips (ABT) this week. In south Hendry County, an infestation of 0.2 adult ABT per bloom were reported, though population increases could surge over the next few weeks due to many larvae present.
ABT populations were up to 0.1 per bloom in the Moore Haven area, compared to zero being spotted last week. There were less than 0.1 ABT per bloom seen in Loxahatchee and also in south Collier County, the first time this year ABT has been reported in south Collier County.
A small population remains in the western Hendry County area. No ABT were identified at the Lee/Collier line.
Populations remain very low in the Palm Beach County region. Scouts continue to report ABT at estimated thresholds in Homestead, Florida since the start of the growing season.
It is not recommended to apply insecticides targeting ABT in areas with low populations.
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