South Florida vegetable producers should be wary that thrips levels are high in certain parts of the region, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.
Population levels vary in Southwest Florida. Melon thrips populations are problematic in certain fields. Levels were medium to high in beans, though most of the crop have been harvested.
Most of the beans have been harvested in the Everglades Agricultural Area, but thrips pressure was extremely high until recently.
It is similar to what is being experienced on the east coast. Most of the beans have been harvested with thrips pressure still high. On cucumbers, thrips pressure is low in Palm Beach County, while pressure is increasing on peppers in Martin County.
Heavy thrips pressure was reported in multiple fields of beans, eggplants, peas and butter beans. Dak Seal, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences entomologist at the Tropical Research and Education Center, reports high levels of melon thrips in beans, and medium levels in squash, eggplants and peppers.
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