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Abstract
Onions are intensively managed due to their high sensitivity to weed, disease, and insect pest pressure. Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are major insect pests of onion, causing damage through feeding, and vector bacterial pathogens causing rot. Both thrips and their associated pathogens are known to survive on many weed species in onion growing regions. Combining weeding with bio-pesticides may synergistically manage thrips and disease by reducing disease prevalence and indirectly increasing onion yield. However, little is known about natural enemies in onion systems or how they may be disturbed from weeding practices. Hence, we characterize arthropod communities on commercial organic and conventional onion farms. Additionally, we estimate the effects of organic weed management and bio-pesticides on weed density, thrips and natural enemy activity, disease severity, and yield.