Thrips
Thrips scrape plant surfaces causing silvery streaks and can transmit plant viruses.
Background & Behavior
(Thysanoptera) Thrips are slender, tiny insects that feed on plant sap, causing leaves and flowers to develop silver streaks or spots. They reproduce quickly, especially in warm, dry weather. Infestations can ruin ornamental plants and crops. Keeping plants healthy and using insecticidal soaps helps manage them effectively.
DIY Approaches
- Prune and discard heavily infested plant leaves promptly.
- Mist plants with insecticidal soap targeting leaf undersides.
- Introduce beneficial insects like minute pirate bugs into gardens.
- Use blue or yellow sticky cards near greenhouse crops.
- Avoid over-fertilizing, which encourages tender thrips-susceptible growth.
Professional Services
- Hire greenhouse managers to implement rotational spray programs.
- Request biological control releases coordinated by horticulture experts.
- Schedule crop scouting services to identify thrips hot spots.
- Have agronomists test for plant viruses associated with thrips.
- Engage integrated pest management teams for year-round crop protection.
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