Effectiveness of various insecticides and predatory bug, Orius laevigatus (Fieber, 1860) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) releases on Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan, 1913) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in lemon, Citrus limon (L.) (Rutales: Rutaceae), orchard in Mersin (Turkiye)

The important invasive thrips species Hawaiian flower thrips, Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan, 1913) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was first reported in Turkiye in 2015. Since then, it has been causing damage in lemon orchards. This study was conducted to reveal the most effective insecticides, the most effective spraying time and the efficacy of biological control. For this purpose, the effectiveness of five insecticides (480 g/l spinosad, 25% spinetoram, 100 g/l spirotetramat, 50% flonicamid, 240 g/l tau-fluvalinate), effect of three spray programs and effectiveness of predatory bug Orius laevigatus (Fieber, 1860) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) were tested in a lemon orchard [Citrus limon (L.) (Rutales: Rutaceae)] in Erdemli district of Mersin province in 2018 and 2019. In order to determine the most effective spraying time, three spray programs were tested. In Program 1, two sprays during the flowering period were applied. In Program 2, two sprays were applied, one at petal fall and the other at the small fruiting stage. In Program 3, one spray at petal fall and two sprays in the fruiting stages were applied. According to the results, 240 g/l tau-fluvalinate and 50% flonicamid showed the lowest efficacy of the insecticides in the three programs. Spinetoram was found the most effective of the others. Insecticide applications to control T. hawaiiensis during the flowering period (Program 1) had low efficacy. Program 3 was found to be the most effective. Predatory bug O. laevigatus, as a biological control agent was found to have a potential efficacy for suppressing T. hawaiiensis populations.