Red LEDs are extremely effective against thrips! Pesticide Reduction to One-Quarter at Okinawa Mango Farm

“Even measures effective in Kyushu may not work in Okinawa.” In Okinawa, where such words are whispered among farmers and the climate is so different, could HotaluX AGRI-RED be a good solution against thrips? Mango farmers who introduced it spoke about its effects.

Proven effectiveness of
red LEDs even in Okinawa, where winters are warm and insects thrive

In northern Okinawa Prefecture, ‘Yanbaru’ is a subtropical forest spreading out. In Higashi Village, located here, there is the Omura Farm, where mango cultivation is practiced.

As a countermeasure against thrips (Thrips), which inhibit mango growth, the agricultural lighting system “HotaluX AGRI-RED” was introduced this year.
By shining red LED light, thrips can no longer recognize leaves or flowers, reducing crop growth damage.

Hang flowers on wire shelves, and when the mangoes ripen, cover them with white paper to prevent sunburn. This is a method unique to Okinawa, where the sunlight is strong. Red light is projected from a position 2.5 meters above the tree.

Takuya Omura, who runs the farm, talks about the circumstances faced by mango farmers and Okinawa.

“Mangoes start to sprout new shoots after harvesting in August, and flowers bloom from February to March. Thrips target these targets, so we use pesticides in spring and autumn to counteract them, but this is physically demanding. Moreover, Okinawa’s high temperatures even in winter mean thrips never disappear, and if they replace them, they develop resistance to the medicine. Meanwhile, pesticide prices are also rising rapidly. “We were in such a hopeless situation.”

Until now, Omura Farm has sprayed 1,000 liters of diluted pesticides over four hours inside six greenhouses. To address thrips with varying resistances, the medication formulation was changed and used four times a week—each in spring and autumn—for 4,000 liters and 16 hours each. Wearing a mask in a hot greenhouse is quite tough. But this year, things were different.

“When we sprayed it just before the flowers bloom in spring and turned on the HotaluX AGRI-RED, thrips activity almost subsided until summer. The usual pesticides used were reduced to a quarter, and I think we were able to cut costs and effort.”

At the house, targeting the time when thrips are most active, HotaluX AGRI-RED is irradiated from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Light measures take advantage of the insect’s properties, so resistance is not developed.

However, while the thrips coming from outside the house were prevented, there are still challenges for the thrips inhabited inside the house. Going forward, they plan to install lights (currently under development by HotaluX) that are expected to help suppress mass outbreaks in summer to minimize damage to the seeds.

HotaluX AGRI-RED

A red LED bulb ideal for deterring thrips and also effective in promoting growth through winter illumination. Hotalux Co., Ltd., which manufactures and sells, was established in 1950 as NEC’s lighting division. Wanting to expand the selection of high-quality products in agricultural lighting, we have re-entered the agricultural sector.