Field efficacy of newer insecticides against onion thrips Thrips tabaci Lindeman

Field experiments were conducted for two consecutive seasons (kharif and rabi) during 2017–18 to evaluate the efficacy of three newer insecticides, including cyantraniliprole (@ 90 & 120 gm ai/ha), emamectin benzoate (@ 11 & 22 gm ai/ha), tolfenpyrad @ 125 ai/ha along with a conventional insecticide, profenofos @ 160 ai/ha. A total of seven treatments, including untreated control, were imposed with a randomized block design having three replications. All the insecticides were found effective against thrips. Profenofos @ 160 ai/ha was the most effective with reduction of 86.8–90% of population of thrips, low leaf curing and a maximum bulb yield (20.8–24.2 t/ha). Cyantraniliprole @ 120 gm ai/ha was the next best with 73.879% decrease of thrips population, low leaf curling index and higher bulb yield (20.9–22.1 t/ha) and was on par with profenofos.