How to control thrips

Thysanoptera

What are Thrips?

There are 7,400 species of thrips in the world and quite a few are serious pests of plants. Some of the more commonly known thrips are Greenhouse thrip (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis), Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and Plague thrips (Thrips imaginis).

Thrips are 0.5mm – 15 mm long and range in colour from white through yellow and brown to black. Thrips generally have wings that are fringed but this can only be seen with magnification. Thrips attack the flowers, fruit and foliage of vegetable crops and ornamental plants. Roses, fruit trees, azaleas, gladioli and a variety of vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and beans all suffer from thrip attacks. They also feed on a wide range of weeds.

During hot weather, weeds dry up and the insects migrate to more attractive plants. Thrips lay eggs inside plant tissue and the pupae feed on plant juices. Thrips also lay eggs in unopened buds making it difficult to control the insect.

Thrips also spread plant viruses; for example tomato thrips and western flower thrips spread the tomato spotted wilt virus.

Symptoms

Thrips scrape the surface of the leaves and petals with their rasping mouthparts, then suck the sap out of the plant cells. The resulting damage leaves a distinctive silvery-white mottled appearance on leaves. Other symptoms are browning on petals and fruit, and flower drop. If left unchecked the leaves, new shoots and flowers will become deformed and stunted. Wilting and browning can also occur.