Responses of tobacco thrips and peanut to imidacloprid and fluopyram

Tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) can reduce peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield if not controlled in many instances in North Carolina and Virginia. Systemic insecticides are often applied in the seed furrow at planting to suppress tobacco thrips and protect peanut yield. Foliar sprays of acephate [N‐(methoxy[methylsulfanyl]phosphoryl)acetamide] are often made regardless of the insecticide applied at planting. Imidacloprid [(NE)‐N‐[1‐([6‐chloropyridin‐3‐yl]methyl)imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)nitramide] plus fluopyram [N‐(2‐[3‐chloro‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridin‐2‐yl]ethyl)‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)benzamide])] is registered for use in peanut but information in the peer‐reviewed literature is limited regarding its effectiveness in suppressing tobacco thrips and whether or not a foliar application of acephate is needed when this product is used. Peanut injury caused by tobacco thrips was lower when phorate [diethoxy‐(ethylsulfanylmethylsulfanyl)‐sulfanylidene‐λ5‐phosphane] or imidacloprid were applied alone compared with imidacloprid plus fluopyram in 16 trials conducted in North Carolina and Virginia from 2014 to 2020. However, all insecticides applied at planting protected peanut from injury caused by tobacco thrips well enough to prevent yield loss compared with nontreated peanut. Although acephate decreased visible injury caused by tobacco thrips, yield was not affected by acephate regardless of the systemic insecticide applied at planting. The results from these trials indicate that imidacloprid plus fluopyram offers adequate suppression of tobacco thrips to protect yield. Although acephate suppressed tobacco thrips, yield was not affected by acephate. Core Ideas Thrips control was greater with imidacloprid and phorate than imidacloprid plus fluopyram. Postemergence acephate increased thrips control regardless of the in‐furrow insecticide used. Peanut yield was similar regardless of insecticide applied the in‐furrow at planting. Acephate did not affect peanut yield when other insecticides were applied at planting.