How To: Get Rid of Thrips

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about How To: Get Rid of Thrips and hope the blog can help you.

These tiny pests can wreak havoc on plants. Here’s how to get rid of them.

Many garden pests are easy to spot, but thrips often evade detection until they’ve completely taken over. This is due to their small size—less than 1/20 of an inch long. Despite their minuscule stature, thrips can do some serious damage to plants. By feeding off sap, they also can transmit pathogens, further weakening plants.

Though thrips live short lives, they reproduce readily and can plague plant owners with up to 15 generations in a single gardening season. Many species of thrips can attack plants, and most overwinter in garden debris and lay eggs in springtime. After about 5 days, the eggs hatch, and the feeding frenzy begins, lasting up to 3 weeks—that’s plenty of time to suck the life force out of once-healthy plants.

The tiny, thin insects vary in color and have small wings. Unfortunately, it can be tough to spot the pests, even when they’re present in large numbers. You’re probably more likely to notice thrip damage first. Signs include:

• Silver streaking on foliage
• Papery thin leaves
• White patches on leaves

Symptoms vary depending on the plant involved. Because thrips often transmit diseases, plants also might display other symptoms such as wilting foliage, poor growth, and leaf or fruit drop. If you suspect an infestation, sticky traps can help you identify and monitor the severity of the problem. Thrips species attack plants of all kinds. However, according to the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program (UCIPM), vegetable plants and herbaceous ornamentals are most vulnerable to thrip damage.

Don’t let these pesky insects get a hold of your garden or houseplants. Here’s how to get rid of thrips and keep them from decimating your precious plants.