Thrips are tiny pests that can cause major damage to plants. Being able to visually identify thrips and the signs of thrip infestation is important for taking prompt action. Pictures are invaluable references for detecting and treating thrips in the garden and home.
What Do Thrips Look Like on Plants?
Thrips are slender insects only 1/25 to 1/8 inch long. Their bodies are typically brown, black or straw-colored. Nymphs resemble small wingless adults and are often yellow. Viewing thrips up close with a magnifying glass or macro lens allows you to distinguish some key identifying features
- Elongated or tubular shape
- Fringed wings (when present)
- Dark banding on the wings or body
- Red eyes (in some species)
When viewing the undersides of leaves or flowers look for tiny black dots scurrying around. This frantic movement is characteristic of thrips.
Recognizing Thrip Damage on Plants
Being able to identify thrip feeding patterns and symptoms of infestation is critical for timely treatment. Different thrips species target specific host plants and cause unique injuries. Some common forms of damage to watch for include:
Streaks and Patches
Thrips pierce plant cells and suck out the contents using needle-like mouthparts. This results in silvery-white streaks or patches on leaves, fruit, and flowers. Roses, citrus trees, and grapes are frequently damaged.
Discolored Flecking
Some thrips species, like chili thrips and strawberry thrips, cause dark necrotic spotting or flecking on leaves and fruits. This type of injury is common on magnolia, maple, and citrus trees.
Deformed Growth
Thrips feeding inhibits proper leaf and flower development. Attacked plant parts may appear curled, stunted, or thickened. Onions and other alliums are particularly susceptible to such deformities.
Blackening
A hallmark sign of thrips is the blackening or dying back of buds, flowers, and shoot tips after feeding. This can decimate crops like beans, tomatoes, and peppers.
Premature Leaf Drop
Heavy infestations can make leaves and flowers drop early. If new growth is constantly under thrips assault, the plant cannot sustain foliage.
Pictures of Thrips Damage by Plant Host
Seeing thrip injury examples on specific plants helps with identification. Here are some photos of typical thrips damage:
Roses
Linear streaks and white spots on leaves and buds. Flowers with color breaks and lesions.
![Thrips damage on rose leaves showing streaking][]
Thrips streaks on rose leaves. Photo by UFL.
Tomatoes
Bronzing and scarring on ripening fruit. Flowers abort or terminals die back. ![Thrips damage on ripening tomato][]
Scarring of tomato caused by thrips. Photo by UMN Extension.
Onions
Silvery speckling or browning of leaves. Misshapen bulbs with flecking and scarring.![Thrips damage on onion leaves][]
Onion thrips injuries to onion foliage. Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.
Thrips Infestation Warning Signs
Be proactive and routinely inspect plants for early signs of thrips like:
- Black dots of excrement on leaves
- Clumped flowers or curled leaves
- Slowed or stunted growth
- White casts shed during molting
Acting at the first signs of infestation provides the best chance of control. Utilize pictures of thrips damage to identify problems early.
When to Take Close-Up Photos
Take detailed thrips photos to support identification and monitor treatment efficacy. Useful times include:
- When suspicious symptoms first appear
- Before and after implementing control measures
- During crop walk-throughs to pinpoint infestation hotspots
- To document the extent of damage for insurance claims
Tips for Photographing Thrips
Capturing quality images of thrips and their damage requires some finesse:
- Use a macro lens or attach a macro filter to get close-ups.
- For whole plant shots, use adequate lighting and a high resolution camera.
- For insects, shake them onto white paper and use flash to illuminate.
- Take multiple photos from different angles and distances.
- Include a size reference like a coin or ruler for scale.
- Focus stack multiple exposures for maximum depth of field.
Thrip Pictures Facilitate Identification
Pictures are invaluable for identifying thrips, assessing crop damage, and devising control strategies. Maintaining a photo journal of thrip activity in your growing area helps evaluate seasonal patterns and treatment efficacy over time. Referring to images aids in early intervention at the first signs of infestation. When in doubt about suspicious symptoms, photos can provide confirmation by comparing to known thrip injuries.
The life cycle of thrips
FAQ
How do you know if your plant has thrips?
Should I throw away a plant with thrips?
How do you get rid of thrips on plants?
What can be mistaken for thrips?
Do thrips eat houseplants?
There are over 7,000 species of thrips that could feed and damage a wide variety of plant species. Around 150 of these will target houseplants. Thrips will breed and lay eggs in the plant tissue on the host plant. They also feed off the sugars and sap within the leaves. All of this causes severe damage that will ruin the look of your indoor plants.
Do thrips kill plants?
Thrips are tiny, winged insects that do tremendous damage to plants. These common pests feed on the sap and juices of houseplants, garden plants, and greenhouse crops. Thrip infestations can damage plants so much that leaves lose color, and plants eventually die. Thrips are challenging to get rid of.
How do thrips affect your garden?
They leave scars, cause tissue distortion and discoloration, and vector some serious viruses. Proper monitoring, combined with a variety of cultural and physical strategies, biological agents, and organic pesticide options, can make a difference for your plants. Have you ever noticed thrips or the damage they’ve caused in your garden?
What are thrips called?
Thrips are often given common names based on the plants they prefer to live on. Gladiolus thrips, Melon thrips, Onion Thrips and even Chilli thrips, are just a couple of examples. The second point to mention is that it’s not always Thrips. Almost all the photos and symptoms I highlighted in the previous section could have alternative causes.
Where do thrips come from?
Thrips can come from plants that have been outside or new plants that have been bought home from a nursery. They can even be on veggies or flowers that you’ve bought in from outside. Since the adults are so tiny and have wings, it’s possible that they could’ve flown in from outside through a screen door or window.
Are thrips attracted to flowers?
Thrips are more attracted to white, yellow, and blue, so flowers in these shades may be more affected. Houseplants: Thrips can affect nearly any houseplant, though prefer broad thin leaves. Houseplants most susceptible include alocasia, calathea, dracaena, dieffenbachia, monstera, palms, peace lily, and ZZ plant.