Evaluating the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) as a management tool for chilli thrips

Insecticide-treated netting offers a promising Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy by excluding or killing pests through immediate contact and/or sublethal effects. LLINs (Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets) have been effective in reducing malaria vectors for over two decades and have been more recently explored in agriculture to protect crops. This study aims to assess the efficacy of four commercially available LLINs against adult chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) on cotton plants. Chilli thrips were directly exposed to each net type using Munger cells with cotton leaves as host plant tissue. Mortality was assessed after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days of exposure. The results showed that PermaNet® 3.0 (Blue net, deltamethrin + PBO), PermaNet® 45 (Black net, deltamethrin + PBO), and PermaNet® Dual (White net, deltamethrin + chlorfenapyr) treatments were the most effective, achieving near-total mortality, while Carifend® (Alpha-cypermethrin) and control groups had lower but variable mortality. Mortality also consistently increased with longer exposure times, indicating that both treatment type and duration are critical determinants of treatment success. This research provides valuable insight into the potential of insecticide-treated netting as a pest management tool to combat the detrimental effects of chilli thrips on economically important crops.