Thrip

Thrips are small plant pests, under 1/16″ long. They have a slender body, and can be a variety of different colors. Many species exist, some with wings and some without. Thrips can cause unsightly damage to plant leaves and flowers, but can only seriously damage young plants. With their small size and tendency to hide inside plant crevices, they can be hard to detect. Look for damage to plants; black specks, scarring, or distorted/discolored parts of plants can all be signs of thrips feeding. A good way to find specimens if they are suspected is to hold a plant over a piece of paper, and shake it to catch the pests that fall of. Not only can thrips appear in large numbers, some can bite – giving them the potential to be troublesome pests when people are present, especially around grassy areas. If necessary, pesticides can be used in gardens or lawns to control thrips. Careful attention must be paid to using pesticides safe to the plants being treated. If they get in your house, thrips can infest indoor plants. Inspecting flowers and plants before bringing them inside will help. A weak soap water solution can be effective in controlling thrips on houseplants, and should be applied weekly until they aren’t seen.