Identification
Thrips have piercing-sucking mouthparts. The larvae are tiny crawlers, pointed at both ends while the adults are tiny winged insects (0.5- 1.4 mm) displaying fringes along both edges of their wing. They range from light tan to brown to black in colour depending on the species (some are striped on their backs).
Damage They Cause:
-often feeding is on young leaves and flowers causing distortion in plant growth
-piercing mouthparts damage leaves, fruit, and flowers leaving silvery/ grey patches on the leaves
-black fecal pellets called frass is often left in the damaged area
-frass can be a problem, causing sooty mold to occur
Beneficial Insects for control:
Neoseiulus (Amblyseius) cucumeris (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) -predatory mite -primarily feed on the first larval stage of thrips
Neoseiulus (Amblyseius) swirzkii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) -predatory mite -primarily feed on the first larval stage of thrips Strateolaelaps scimitis (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) -generalist predatory mite Dalotia (Atheta) coriaria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) -generalist predatory beetle Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthrocoridae) -generalist predatory beetle Micromus variegatus (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) -generalist predatory adults & larvae
