THRIPS CONTROL
ABOUT THRIPS
Thrips are tiny, slender insects that feed on plant cells and vary in color from yellow to brown or black. Although they’re small, thrips can quickly multiply and inflict widespread damage in both gardens and greenhouses. They are sap-suckers and their feeding habits disrupt plant health, stunting growth and reducing flower quality. Thrips also pose a double threat by spreading viral diseases from plant to plant.
IDENTIFICATION OF THRIPS INFESTATION
Spotting thrips early can prevent severe plant damage. These insects often hide in buds, flowers, and on the undersides of leaves, making them challenging to detect. Look for signs such as tiny black specks (thrips droppings), stippling, silvery streaks on leaves, twisted new growth, and distorted or discolored flowers.
CULTURAL STRATEGIES
Cultural strategies focus on creating an environment that is favorable for plants and less hospitable to pests. Cultivation practices such as maintaining healthy soil, crop rotation, mulching, and companion planting help to create unfavorable conditions for pests.
PHYSICAL / MECHANICAL CONTROL STRATEGIES
Physical or mechanical control strategies involve the use of physical barriers, tools, or methods to prevent, monitor, or control pests. We offer several products to help with physical/mechanical control, such as:
- Blue Sticky Traps to monitor and detect infestations early.
- Beneficial Insect Netting to keep the good bugs in and the bad bugs out.
- Diatomaceous Earth to create unfavorable conditions for soft-bodied pest insects.
- We also carry a sticky trap that selectively attracts Western Flower Thrips.
BIOLOGICAL STRATEGIES
One of the most natural and effective ways to control thrips is by introducing beneficial insects to your garden. Releasing beneficials creates a self-sustaining solution, where natural predators keep thrips populations in check. This approach not only protects your plants but also supports biodiversity, making it an ideal choice for eco-friendly pest control.
Unlike harsh chemicals, natural predators take time to establish a population. This is why we recommend releasing the good bugs before thrips infestations are heavy.
GENERAL PREDATORS
- Ladybugs control aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, mites, thrips, & more.
-
Green Lacewing Larvae control aphids, small caterpillars, mealybugs, whiteflies, mites, scale, thrips, & more.
TARGETED THRIPS CONTROL
- Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug) controls all life stages of thrips, mites, moth eggs, aphids, & more.
- Amblyseius swirskii controls thrips larvae and eggs in warmer environments.
- Amblyseius cucumeris controls thrips larvae and eggs in cooler environments.
- Dalotia coriaria (Rove Beetle) controls thrips pupae in the soil.
- Hypoaspis miles controls thrips pupae in the soil.
SOFT CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS
If infestations have gotten too heavy, we also offer soft chemical treatments such as neem oil and insecticidal soap.
