Thrips
Risk near you, next 48h
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When it strikes
About
Thrips are slender rasping insects that scar flowers and foliage of vegetables, fruit and ornamentals in warm dry weather and greenhouses, and transmit damaging viruses such as spotted wilt.
Symptoms
Silvery or whitish streaks and stippling on leaves and petals, tiny black faecal specks, distorted buds and flowers, and scarred fruit; slender insects that scatter when disturbed.
Organic Treatment
Use blue sticky traps, spray insecticidal soap or spinosad, and release predatory mites and minute pirate bugs. Remove weeds that harbour thrips.
Chemical Treatment
Spinosad or abamectin, rotated with other modes of action because thrips develop resistance fast.
Prevention
Use reflective mulch, control weeds, inspect new plants, encourage natural enemies, and use insect netting on vulnerable crops.