Thrips Control Challenge Quiz

Assess your expertise in thrips pest management strategies for chilli crops, including identification, prevention, and eco-friendly control measures. Aimed at growers and horticulture enthusiasts interested in integrated approaches.

1. Thrips Recognition in Chilli Fields

   Which of the following visible symptoms commonly indicates a thrips infestation on chilli plants in the field?

   1. Rotting roots with fungal odor
   2. Black mold on fruit surfaces
   3. Wilting without any leaf discoloration
   4. Silvery streaks on leaves and curling

   Explanation: Silvery streaks and leaf curling are characteristic signs of thrips feeding on chilli plants, as their rasping mouthparts scrape leaf surfaces. Black mold is typically associated with other pests such as aphids producing honeydew. Wilting with no discoloration and rotting roots are more commonly due to water stress or soil-borne diseases, not thrips.

2. Biological Control Option

   Which biological control agent is frequently recommended for managing thrips in chilli crops without harming beneficial insects?

   1. Predatory mites (Amblyseius spp.)
   2. Root nematodes
   3. Chemical insecticides
   4. Grasshoppers

   Explanation: Predatory mites are effective biological control agents that prey on thrips populations and are safe for most beneficial insects. Chemical insecticides can harm non-target organisms. Root nematodes are soil pests, not controls, and grasshoppers do not target thrips and may also damage crops.

3. Impact of Weather on Thrips

   How does hot, dry weather typically affect thrips populations in chilli plantations?

   1. It causes thrips mortality due to dehydration
   2. It completely eliminates adult thrips
   3. It increases thrips activity and reproduction rates
   4. It has no significant effect on thrips populations

   Explanation: Thrips thrive in hot, dry conditions, which favor their rapid reproduction and mobility on chilli plants. Such weather does not cause significant mortality or eliminate adults. Saying it has no effect is incorrect, as weather is a key factor influencing pest pressure.

4. Resistant Varieties

   Which practice helps reduce the risk of thrips outbreaks in chilli cultivation through plant selection?

   1. Increasing field irrigation frequency
   2. Applying synthetic fertilizers weekly
   3. Planting only during the rainy season
   4. Using thrips-resistant chilli varieties

   Explanation: Choosing resistant varieties provides ongoing plant defense against thrips, lowering pest pressure. Planting in the rainy season reduces drought stress but doesn't guarantee thrips control. Fertilizer and irrigation management are important for plant health but do not directly address thrips infestation.

5. Cultural Management Technique

   What is a recommended cultural method to manage thrips populations in chilli fields?

   1. Covering plants completely with black plastic
   2. Spraying sugar solution on leaves
   3. Removing weeds and plant debris from the field
   4. Applying lime directly to leaves

   Explanation: Weeds and plant debris can harbor thrips and their eggs, so regular removal reduces breeding sites. Spraying sugar solution, covering with plastic, or applying lime to leaves are not effective or recommended practices for thrips management and could harm plants or be ineffective.