title: Development of an efficient trapping system for New Zealand flower thrips, Thrips obscuratus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New Zealand flower thrips (NZFT), Thrips obscuratus (Crawford), is an economic pest of various horticultural crops in New Zealand and is recognised as a quarantine pest globally. Two chemical attractants (ethyl nicotinate and 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one), three dispensers, three trap designs and four trap heights were investigated to determine the most effective method for monitoring NZFT. Phenology of NZFT at two locations was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  6-Pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one in a polyethylene bag dispenser was the most attractive lure formulation and exhibited high stability in release rate trials. There was no difference in NZFT catch between vertical-panel and cross-panel traps, but both caught significantly more than delta traps. However, both types of panel trap had unacceptably high by-catch of native insects. Catch of thrips increased with height from 0 to 3 m. Phenology of NZFT showed similar population trends at both locations, but with a timing difference of around 50 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delta traps containing 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one in a polyethylene bag at 2 m above the ground is the recommended method for monitoring NZFT, significantly improving the sensitivity, accuracy and labour input compared with prior methods. Long-term monitoring of NZFT could lead to more accurate economic damage thresholds and timing for when to apply insecticides. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand; Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: Warwick J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Vanessa J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Colhoun
authors.forename: Bernie A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Attfield
authors.forename: Mailee E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Stanbury
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Suckling
authors.forename: Ashraf M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007300:Insect Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009520:New Zealand; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061149:Thysanoptera / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; C010411:insect attractants
keywords: 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one; detection; ethyl nicotinate; monitoring; phenology; trap height