Peanut planting season is well underway in Georgia, and the insect issue of greatest concern this time of year is thrips. The feeding injury caused by these tiny insects will slow seedling growth and can result in lost yield. More importantly, thrips transmit Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus which can have devastating impact on peanut yield.
Here are some questions I have gotten over the last few days:
Q: The chain on the granular insecticide boxes on my planter jumped off, and I planted an entire field with no Thimet. What do I do now?
A: There is nothing you can do at this point that will affect your risk of TSWV. Once the furrow is closed, the opportunity to manage TSWV has passed. Peanuts that were planted before 10 May are at increased risk for thrips feeding injury as well as TSWV, and a foliar insecticide application will more than likely be justified in these fields. For peanuts planted after 10 May, the chance that a foliar insecticide will be needed is reduced, but not eliminated. The presence of 1 or more thrips per seedling at 14 days after planting is a good indication that an insecticide application is warranted; this is only true for fields where no insecticide was applied in the furrow.
Q: I am strip-till planting GA-06G in twin rows in rye cover. Can I stop putting Thimet in the furrow after 10 May?
A: Assuming you get a good stand, the situation you described will put you into a low risk category for TSWV (See Peanut Rx) even with no Thimet in the furrow. In this scenario it would not be unreasonable to stop applying Thimet. You might need to come back with a foliar insecticide for thrips if there is no insecticide applied in the furrow, so that should be a part of the decision making process.
Q: Will combining imidacloprid with Thimet in-furrow provide any benefit?
A: If you are putting Thimet in-furrow there is nothing to be gained by adding the liquid insecticide.
Q: I put an insecticide in the furrow. Should I come back with an acephate foliar spray for thrips?
A: My research shows that applying a foliar insecticide rarely results in higher yield when an in-furrow insecticide is used.