This fact sheet outlines information on sucking pests and how to control them. A case study of a capsicum grower’s personal experience in adopting Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) in managing western flower thrips (WFT) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV).

Sucking pests include thrips, whiteflies, aphids, mites and bugs. The feeding activity of sucking pests can damage plant buds, leaves and vegetable fruit directly. Calendar-based spray programs to control these pests are expensive, and often ineffective due to insecticide resistance amongst the pest populations.

This fact sheet summarises the information you’ll need to sustainably manage the sucking pests in your crops and outlines a capsicum grower’s personal experience in adopting Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) and achieving success in managing western flower thrips (WFT) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV).

ICP (also referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM)) considers the production system as a whole, including all pests, soil and plant health