author(s)
Abid Showkat, Parveena Bano, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Khan, Showket A Dar, Nazir A Bhat, KR Dar and Zakir S Khan

abstract
Thrips in apple ecosystem in Kashsmir are devastating particularly during flowering, so in this regard a reseach trial was conducted for the year 2016 and 2017. Three insecticides viz., Chlorpyriphos @ 1ml/lt of water (Dursban 20 EC), Thiacloprid @ 0.4 ml/lt of water (Alanto 21.7 SC) and Dimethoate @ 1ml/lt of water (Rogor 30 EC) were evaluated for the control of apple blossom thrip (Thrips carthami) and all the chemicals were found significantly effective against the pest at all the three phenological stages viz: Green Tip, Pink Bud and Petal Fall of apple crop.Three plots consisting of five trees each (four at corners and one at the middle) were selected for the evaluation of each insecticide. Thrips densities were recorded one day before insecticide spray and at 5, 12 and 20 days after treatment by collecting 5 flower clusters (each with five to six flowers) from four directions and one at center which resulted 25 flower clusters per tree from four directions and at center for 125 flower clusters per treatment per sampling date. Thiacloprid proved significantly superior over all other treatments in managing the pest at all the three phenological stages of apple.