Western flower thrips (WFT), Franklinella occidentalis, is a major pest of ornamentals. Mycotized millet grains with entomopathogenic fungi applied to soil of potted marigold plants was tested to target pupating thrips. Two experimental fungal isolates, (Beauveria bassiana [ARS7060] and Metarhizium anisopliae [ERL1171]), were compared with the registered B.bassiana strain GHA and untreated controls in greenhouse caged trials. Mycotized millet grains were mixed into the upper surface of the potting soil in pots of flowering ‘Hero Yellow’ marigolds (4 g/pot). One week after application five mated WFT females were released onto each plant (four plants per cage). At 8 wks post-infestation, the mean total number of thrips per plant was 81 and 90% less in the ERL1171 and ARS 7060 treatments, respectively, than in the controls. The mean numbers of thrips per plant for the control and GHA treatments were not significantly different. Plant damage was 60% less on plants treated with the experimental fungi than the control and GHA treatments. At 10 wks post-application, 75-90% of WFT collected from the treatments were infected with the experimental isolates. These results demonstrate that soil applications of entomopathogenic fungi can reduce WFT populations significantly and prevent damage.

• Jae Su Kim(Department of Agricultural Biology, Chonbuk National University)
• Se Jin Lee(Department of Agricultural Biology, Chonbuk National University)
• Margaret Skinner(Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, USA)
• Bruce L. Parker(Department of Agricultural Biology, Chonbuk National University, Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, USA)