Insecticidal effect of high carbon dioxide atmospheres on thrips eggs oviposited in plant tissue

Abstract

Thrips are damaging crop pests, but their eggs are difficult to detect for farmers and agricultural inspectors. We investigated the insecticidal effects of an elevated carbon dioxide atmosphere on thrips eggs oviposited within plant tissues. Percent mortality of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), Thrips tabaci Lindeman, and Thrips palmi Karny exposed to 60 % CO2 was evaluated at different temperatures (20, 25, 30, and 34 °C) and durations. Egg mortality of all four species increased with CO2 exposure duration at each temperature, and the time required to achieve 100 % mortality decreased as the temperature increased between 20–30 °C. Exposure to 60 % CO2 at 30 °C for 12 h is considered to be 100 % lethal to most thrips pests of fresh agricultural produce. Our findings suggested that CO2 treatment could be used to propagate thrips-free plants in horticultural nurseries.