Editing Thrips

[[File:Thripsonleaf.png|center|500px|thumb|<center>Adult thrips, nymphs and eggs on leaf</center>]]

'''Thrips''' (order Thysanoptera) are very small, black or yellowish-green coloured insects with fringed wings.<ref name="Colorado">Judy Sedbrook, ''Thrips'', http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/Pests/thrips.htm (dead link)</ref> They are also known as thunder flies, thunder bugs, storm flies, thunder blights, storm bugs, corn flies or corn lice.<ref name="wp">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrips</ref> Thrips suck, scrape and suck plant juices, stems and buds.<ref name="planet">http://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/thrips-control/</ref>

== Signs of thrips on plants ==

Thrips tend to hide well, amid flower buds, in leaf joints, inside folded leaves and under leaves, making them harder to spot.<ref name="Colorado" /> Thus, it's useful to know what to look for by way of plant damage, to alert you to their possible presence. Plants affected by thrips tend to have pale, scarred and spotted leaves/flowers/buds and the leaves may be twisted.<ref name="planet" /><ref name="Colorado" /> The petals may have brown sections or spots.<ref name="Colorado" /> The plants may also die.

Thrips are attracted to blossoms or flowers that are lightly coloured, yellow or white.<ref name="planet" /> They are poor flyers, so tend to attack one area of a plant, then spread slowly.<ref name="Colorado" />

In terms of flowers, such as dadylilies (''Hemerocallis'' spp.), gladioli and roses are especially badly impacted by thrips. If attacked by thrips, these plants may experience so much damage that the buds fail to open.

Vegetables typically attacked by thrips include carrots, beans, squash and onions.<ref name="planet" />

== Dealing with thrips ==

Spray the plant with a stream or jet of water, to remove the thrips.<ref name="Colorado" /> Overhead watering can remove thrips.<ref name="Colorado" />

Remove affected parts of the plants (buds, leaves, etc.), and discard.

Aluminium foil mulch may work to confuse the thrips.<ref name="Colorado" />

Insecticidal soap made from plant oils can be used to remove thrips.<ref name="planet" /> However, it can be hard to reach thrips, as they hide in difficult-to-reach places.<ref name="Colorado" />

Keep away the weeds and grass around desired plants, as these can serve as additional host plants attracting the thrips. Don't plant near dry and grassy areas, as these likely already host thrips.<ref name="Colorado" /> Avoid pruning too much, as this stimulates new growth and this attracts thrips.<ref name="Colorado" />

Use beneficial insects that predate on thrips, such as ladybirds (ladybugs), lacewings, minute pirate bugs and effective thrips predator.<ref name="planet" />

Pyrethrin can be used on a severe outbreak of thrips.<ref name="planet" /> However, this also targets beneficial insects, so should be a last resort.

== Sources and citations ==

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[[Category:Insects]]
[[Category:Pest control]]