Thrips populations are slowly building in the Yuma Valley, and will likely continue to increase as the days grow longer and warmer. I expected that the rain we experienced in early January (0.75-1.0”) would reduce population numbers because heavy rainfall can dislodge or even drown adult thrips on plants, and can suffocate larvae in the soil. However, the recent rainfall did not appear to slow down thrips population development on untreated lettuce at the Yuma Ag Center. In fact, thrips larval numbers have been 2- times greater on untreated romaine as compared to this time last season (see graph below). It appears the rainfall had a negligible impact on these populations in the field; nor has the cooler weather we’ve experienced so far this winter. Based on historical data, if temperatures remain moderate and rainfall is light we can expect thrips numbers to reach very high levels by the end of the month. Note: the key to preventing thrips from significantly scarring leafy vegetable plants is to prevent immature populations from becoming established. The cryptic or thigmotactic bevahoir of thrips often makes them difficult to find on lettuce plants. Research has shown us that if you can see a few adults and larvae on the plant, it likely means that as many as 8-10 fold more thrips are actually on the plant (hiding near the base of the plant between midribs). This behavior also means that spray coverage is important, particularly with contact insecticides like Lannate, Torac and pyrethroids. For more information on the identification, biology, ecology and management of thrips on desert produce please visit Western Flower Thrips Management on Desert Produce.

Did you know?: “Like the words sheep, deer and fish, the word thrips is used for both the singular and plural forms, so there may be many thrips on a lettuce plant or a single thrips”.  

This study was conducted at the JV farms at Gila Valley. Lettuce variety ‘Guapo’ was seeded, then sprinkler-irrigated to germinate seed on September 19, 2023, on double rows 12 in. apart on beds with 42 in. between bed centers.  Rest of the irrigation was supplied by furrow irrigation or rainfall. Treatments were replicated five times in a randomized complete block design. Each replicate plot consisted of 25 ft of bed, which contained two 25 ft rows of lettuce. Plants were thinned on October 9, 2023 at the 3-4 leaf stage to a 12-inch spacing. Treatment beds were separated by single nontreated beds. Treatments were applied by incorporating in soil before seeding or with a tractor-mounted boom sprayer that delivered 50 gal/acre at 100 psi to flat-fan nozzles spaced 12 in apart.

Month	Max	Min	Avg	Rain
September	100	71	86	0.71 in
October	93	61	77	0.00 in
November	80	51	65	0.08 in
December	71	44	57	0.82 in

 
Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae ) rating was done in the field by observing the typical symptom of lettuce wilt. Confirmation was done by cutting the cross section of roots. Disease scoring/rating was done on December 6, 2023. 
 
The data in the table illustrate the degree of disease control obtained by application of the various treatments in this trial. The disease pressure was extremely high in 2023, and most treatments showed little or no control against the disease. The treatments that showed some activity were Bexfond, Cevya, Rhyme, and Serifel. Plant vigor was normal and phytotoxicity symptoms were not observed in any treatments in this trial.

For those of you interested in the latest developments in Vegetable IPM and/or in need of CEU’s, Yuma County Cooperative Extension has created online workshops that offer CEU and CCA credits for both AZ and CA. Current offerings are the recorded workshops from 2021 Southwest Ag Summit. There’s an ag mechanization session entitled “Advances in Weed Control Technologies”, and several others that readers of this newsletter may be particularly interested in including: “Integrated Pest Management Regulatory Update” “Pesticide-Related Updates: The Latest Presented by the Greatest” “Influence of Irrigation on Insect, Weed, and Disease Management” “Advances in Weed Control Technologies” “Integrated Pest Management in Vegetables”. Please recognize Yuma County Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent Robert Masson who spearheaded this effort. Click on the image, or here to access Veg IPM workshops online.

Weeds that are outside of fields can still be harmful to crop production. This does not include ditch banks or fallow fields. Non-crop weed control includes weeds around buildings, roadways, equipment yards, fence lines etc. It is different than fallow ground or ditch banks weed control and includes places where crops are not grown. Weeds in non-crop areas can be a source of weed seeds that blow or are carried into places where crops are grown. They can also be a refuge for insects,  diseases and rodents. The reason that these herbicides are registered for non-crop areas is that they are broad spectrum and persistent. Some are registered for use in fields but at much lower rates than for non-crop areas. For instance, Diuron can be used on alfalfa at 1 to 1.5 qts/ac. but is used for non-crop areas at 12 qts/ac.

Herbicide	Weeds Controlled	Activity	Soil Residual	Comments
Bromacil	Broadleaves and grasses	Preemergence	1 to 2 years	The nuclear option Should be incorporated with water. Keep away from roots of desirable vegetation.
Hexazinone	Broadleaves and grasses	Preemergence and Postemergence	1 to 2 years	Keep away from roots of desirable vegetation. Incorporate with water.
Diuron	Broadleaves and grasses	Preemergence and Postemergence	2 years	Incorporate with water but do not leach into roots of desirable vegetation
Prometon	Broadleaves and grasses	Preemergence and Postemergence	1 to 2 years	Must be incorporated with water
Tebuthiuron	Broadleaves and grass. Good on hardwood trees	Preemergence and postemergence	2 years	Incorporate with water. Contact with even on feeder root of desirable vegetation can be lethal
Imazapyr	Broadleaves and grasses	Preemergence and post emergence	1 year	Primarily a postemergence herbicide but is readily absorbed by rootsif incorporated with water
sulfometuron	Broadleaves and grasses	Preemergence and post emergence	1 year	Must incorporate with water
Aminopyralid	Broadleaves	Preemergence	1 year	broadleaves only. Shorter soil residual for weeds but crops can not be planted for 1-2 years

Area wide Insect Trapping Network   VegIPM Update, Vol. 14, No. 14, Jul 12, 2023
 
Results of pheromone and sticky trap catches can be viewed here.
 
Corn earworm:           
CEW moth counts decreased in the past 2 weeks and about average for this time of summer.
 
Beet armyworm:         
Trap counts stay active in some locations (Yuma Valley and Wellton) but about average for July.
 
Cabbage looper:          
Cabbage looper numbers remain low consistent with the lack of activity this fall compared to last season.
 
Diamondback moth:       
DBM moths were not caught in any trap in the past 2 weeks; average for this time of the year.
 
Whitefly:                       
Adult movement continuing to increase, particularly in Gila and Yuma Valleys consistent with melon harvest.
 
Thrips:                           
Thrips adults decreasing in most locations, and trending comparable to previous years.
 
Aphids:                        
Aphid movement is absent consistent with what we typically see in the summer. 
 
Leafminers:                  
Adult activity has highest in Yuma and Dome Valley, and above average for early July.