Field evaluation of insecticides against chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood).

Five insecticides viz. acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, fipronil and oxydemeton-methyl were evaluated against the pest. The highest overall mean diminution of thrips population and consequential yield increase over control were recorded in thiamethoxam (90.1 & 54.3%) followed by acetamiprid (89.8 & 53.2%), fipronil (88.8 & 50.0%), clothianidin (87.4 & 45.6%) and oxydemeton-methyl (76.9 & 36.9%). The highest % reduction of curly leaves over control was recorded in acetamiprid (66.5%) treated plots, closely followed by clothianidin (66.1%), fipronil (64.1%) and thiamethoxam (63.5%) unlike oxydemeton-methyl treated plots (44.9%). The curling of leaves and reduction in population of thrips were correlated with the crop yield.