Thrips

Scientific name: Order: Thysanoptera

Description

There are many types of thrips with some types feeding on decaying organic matter such as leaves, wood and fungi, while there are others that are serious plant pests. Often thrips are overlooked as a serious plant pest due to their size being 1-2mm in length and 0.5mm wide and can be white, yellow, cream, brown or black in appearance.  Thrips gather in numbers and feed not only on leaves but flowers and fruit also. Their mouth parts can be described as ‘rasping and sucking’ causing damage to the surface of leaves, fruit and flowers; causing sap to ooze out. In young leaves damage can be seen as distortion and leaf curling, with older leaves they may appear silver to grey in appearance. When they attack flowers they attack the reproductive parts and petals causing browning and wilting, which results in fewer and damaged fruit. Thrips are greatly influenced by weather conditions, with heavy rain, very hot and dry weather reducing populations of thrips. They are most active during spring and autumn.