09/01/2026
Insecticide use cut in half!
The University of Tokyo tested red insect nets against conventional white and black nets on fields of Kujo leeks, a traditional Japanese variety of Welsh onion. The target pest was the onion thrips, a tiny but destructive insect that causes significant crop losses and typically requires repeated insecticide applications to control.
Red nets significantly outperformed white and black alternatives at deterring thrips, with the color itself appearing to act as a visual deterrent that discourages the insects from entering the protected area.
With color for repellent, farmers can use nets with larger mesh openings than they would otherwise need. Larger openings mean better airflow through the crop, more sunlight reaching the plants, and lower risk of heat stress and humidity buildup that finer mesh nets can create.
Red nets showed insecticide reductions up to 50 percent compared to conventional methods, with direct benefits for soil health, pollinating insects, farm costs, and the health of farm workers handling the chemicals.
