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Thrip

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Thrip

Signs of a thrip infestation include black, shiny speckles (droppings), silvery stippling (masses of tiny scars on plant parts) and, in severe cases, deformed growth. Thrips attack many fruit and vegetable crops, including asparagus, cabbage, lettuce, onions, and peas. Thrips prefer to feed on new, rapidly growing plant tissues. Feeding usually causes only moderate damage, but in large numbers, thrips can be very destructive. Their extraction of plant juices can prevent leaves and buds from opening.

Thrips are fast-moving insects that measure no more than about 1/25″; they are not visible to the naked eye. Certain species also spread tomato viruses. Thrips reproduce rapidly, so there are many generations each growing season. They are found throughout North America.

Prevention and Control
  • Natural predators usually keep thrip populations under control. Encourage these natural enemies in your garden.
  • Protect susceptible plants by covering them with garden fabric.
  • To determine if thrips are present, hang yellow sticky traps. Or, shake foliage and flowers over a white piece of paper. A dustlike coating on the paper indicates the presence of thrips.

Recommended Products

  • Whitefly Traps Sticky 3x5" cards attract and capture whiteflies, fungus gnats, thrips and other pests in gardens, greenhouses and potted plants.
  • Bon-Neem Spray Controls a variety of pests, including aphids, mites, whiteflies, flea beetles, scale and earwigs. Contains natural potassium salts and potent neem tree oil.
  • Garden Dust Contains copper sulphate and pyrethrins. Use it as a last resort if other controls are not effective
  • Gnat Guard A single application of this biological control (naturally-occurring beneficial nematodes) gives your plants permanent protection against gnats and thrips
  • Grub Guard Contains beneficial nematodes, naturally occurring microorganisms that live in the soil. They feed on Japanese beetle grubs, Colorado potato beetle grubs, cutworms, root weevils, flea larvae and other soil-dwelling insects. Won't harm earthworms or most beneficial insects, safe around pets.
  • Insect Control Spray Controls pests with fast-acting natural pyrethrins to kill insects and larvae on contact and canola oil to smother eggs
  • All Seasons Spray Oil, 32 Oz. Unlike heavy "dormant" spray oils that can only be used in early spring, this lightweight oil can be used year-round on vegetables and ornamental plants to control many insect pests, including aphids, mealybugs, red spider mites and scale.
  • Spinosad Pest Control Spray A soil-dwelling bacterium that controls dozens of insect pests: bagworms, borers, beetles, spider mites, tent caterpillars, loopers, and more.
  • Slug Guard These beneficial nematodes are tiny, soil-dwelling predators that target slugs, killing them within 48 hours. One application is effective all summer. Unlike chemical controls, they won't harm earthworms or most beneficial insects, and they are safe to use around children and pets.

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