{"id":65739,"key":"Thrips","title":"Thrips","latest":{"id":1208313,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T23:55:03Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Thripsonleaf.png|center|500px|thumb|<center>Adult thrips, nymphs and eggs on leaf</center>]]\n\n'''Thrips''' (order Thysanoptera) are very small, black or yellowish-green coloured insects with fringed wings.<ref name=\"Colorado\">Judy Sedbrook, ''Thrips'', https://eagrovision.com/thrips/</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>\n\nThrips can readily move long distances floating with the wind or transported on infested plants. For example, myoporum thrips causes severe galling of Myoporum laetumand M. pacificum. Originally from New Zealand, this thrips was introduced into Southern California. Spreading to most areas of the state where its hosts are grown.<ref name=\"Eagrovision\">https://eagrovision.com/thrips/</ref>\n\n== Signs of thrips on plants ==\n\nThrips 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.\n\nThrips 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\" />\n\nIn 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.\n\nVegetables typically attacked by thrips include carrots, beans, squash and onions.<ref name=\"planet\" />\n\n== Dealing with thrips ==\n\nSpray the plant with a stream or jet of water, to remove the thrips.<ref name=\"Colorado\" /> Overhead watering can remove thrips.<ref name=\"Colorado\" />\n\nRemove affected parts of the plants (buds, leaves, etc.), and discard.\n\nAluminium foil mulch may work to confuse the thrips.<ref name=\"Colorado\" />\n\nInsecticidal 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\" />\n\nKeep 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\" />\n\nUse beneficial insects that predate on thrips, such as ladybirds (ladybugs), lacewings, minute pirate bugs and effective thrips predator.<ref name=\"planet\" />\n\nPyrethrin can be used on a severe outbreak of thrips.<ref name=\"planet\" /> However, this also targets beneficial insects, so should be a last resort.\n\n== Sources and citations ==\n\n<references />\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:Insects]]\n[[Category:Pest control]]"}