THRIPS

Browsing through the greenhouse today with my trusty magnifying glass what did I see? Lo and behold the nasty thrips already!!!
Description

Of the more than 6,000 thrips species known in the world, the following five are common pests of greenhouse crops: Greenhouse thrips (Heliothrips haemorroidalis), Banded greenhouse thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis), Flower thrips (Frankliniella tritici), Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), and Onion or tobacco thrips (Thrips tabaci).

They were feasting on a tray of Impatiens which by the way they love, which is not good because they pass on a virus which will really mess them up.
It doesn't take long for them to multiply making it harder to get rid of them.One of the best sprays to use in the greenhouse for thrips is conserve.



Thrips are small (~1/8” long) and narrow-bodied insects commonly found feeding on leaves and stems. Greenhouse thrips (Heliothrips femoralis) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella tritici) are plant pests commonly found in most greenhouses and on flowering plants kept indoors. Adult greenhouse thrips are dark and western flower thrips adults are straw yellow to light brown. Greenhouse thrips nymphs are pale green and can resemble small aphids without cornicles. The larval form of flower thrips appear wormlike and range from pale yellow to light orange.

Since thrips are quite small and their pale-colored nymphs are difficult to detect, using magnification when scouting is recommended. The presence of thrips gives a splotchy appearance to leaves.

If you ever see anything unusual on the leaves of any plants in your greenhouse splotching, streaks, mottling get your magnifier out because more than likely it is a bug of some sort. Scouting is one of the most important tools in the fight with bugs.


Using rasping-sucking mouthparts, both larvae and adult thrips cause a distinct splotchy appearance on leaves.
If you see any kind of deformity or splotchy appearance or anything out of the norm on leaves, get your magnyfying glass out because 9 times out of ten it is a bug of some kind.

A good magnifying glass essential in a greenhouse, without one you will never see mites or even thrips (especially when you get older). Also I have found sticky cards to be invaluable.They will show adult thrips when they are in your greenhouse