introduction

The life cycle of thrips

Thrips, like other creepy crawlies, have a distinct metamorphosis. This metamorphosis is divided into the stages of hatching, pupation, and adulthood.

The hatchlings, which are usually seen without wings or with particularly small wings, suck.

 During pupation, these creepy crawlies usually go into the soil and it is extremely difficult to control them.

How do you get rid of thrips easily?

Thrips are very small insects with long spiny wings. Of course, these insects can be seen in the environment as winged or wingless animals.

These insects feed on trees and shrubs by sucking out the sap of the plant, resulting in yellow spots on the surface of the plants.

  Thrips insects can grow up to 5 mm long, but they can also be found on plants between 0.5 and 5 mm in size.

Thrips can be sucking insects and have six legs, a limited middle and short wings. 

Their proboscis differs from that of aphids by its asymmetry and conical shape.

This bug lays eggs and uses the last part of its gut to lay them. Of course.

 the egg-laying part is not visible in the male species, and for this reason, they are also smaller than the female species.

The thrips’ area of attack is exceptionally large, and plants such as eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, beans, citrus fruits, peas, melons, sunflowers, soybeans, squash, tomatoes, sesame seeds, and chrysanthemums are constantly at risk of infestation by these creepy-crawlies.

Damage caused by thrips

By sucking plant sap, thrips cause yellow spots and diseases on plants. 

These creepy-crawlies mainly attack tissue that is still young and developing much better than old tissue.

so they stop the development of the plant and the plants ultimately suffer developmental disorders and damage during the flowering period and when the buds open.

In plants whose flowers turn into natural products, it leads to a reduction in delivery and causes the flowers to fall off and dry out.

If the number of leaf-sucking insects is high, the plant dies and is destroyed.

 The presence of very small red drops on both sides of the leaf is due to the secretions of the thrips, which gradually turn black and quickly expand into black spots on the leaf.

In general, thrips infestation shows 3 symptoms: twisting of the leaves, wilting and weakness of the leaves, change in leaf color, and small fruits.

 

Diagnosis of thrips

This bug hides its eggs in the feces under the leaves, so it’s difficult to find them until they begin to move.

Another way to detect the presence of these bugs is to look for bite wounds on young leaves, which show that the thrips have begun infesting.

These lesions can also be on the small, undeveloped parts of the plant and the pretty, colorful parts of the plant.

 If you look at the back of the leaves, you can recognize the bugs.

 

Fighting thrips

Biological control

Using the blue card is the best way to control this pest naturally. The use of these cards helps to reduce the number of pests and is very helpful in controlling thrips. The blue card is a better and faster option than the yellow card.

Cleaning the plant can also be useful. You can wash your plants with horticultural soap. You can also remove the infested areas and dispose of them.

Chemical pest control

In chemical control, you can kill not only pest thrips but also a type of fighting thrips, but sometimes it is necessary to use insecticides to control these pests. 

These insecticides include Estamipride – Confidor – Ebron – Dichloro – Permethrin – Movento – Ethion – Diazinon – Deltamethrin

Conclusion

thrips present a significant challenge to gardeners and agriculturalists due to their destructive feeding habits and rapid reproduction cycle.

 However, with proper detection and control methods, their impact on plants can be minimized.

Biological control measures, such as using blue cards and horticultural soap, offer environmentally friendly solutions to manage thrips populations.

 These methods target thrips while minimizing harm to beneficial insects and the ecosystem.

In cases where infestations are severe, chemical pest control options may be necessary. 

However, it’s essential to use these methods judiciously and follow safety guidelines to prevent harm to humans, animals, and the environment.

Overall, by understanding the life cycle and behavior of thrips and implementing appropriate control strategies, gardeners can effectively protect their plants from damage and ensure healthy growth.

Vigilance and proactive management are key to mitigating the impact of thrips infestations and maintaining thriving gardens and crops.