Thrips

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis on a leaf

What are thrips?

Several species of thrips are a major problem in greenhouse horticulture. The Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) is the most damaging species. Thrips form the order Thysanoptera, a name that literally means ‘fringed wings’, and refers to the eyelash-like fringe of hairs along both edges of the thin wings. There are more than 6,000 known species. Most are harmless, some are predators, and fewer than 20 species can cause problems in agriculture and horticulture. Thrips are small insects (0.5-14 mm), with the largest species found in the tropics. In temperate regions they are not larger than 2.5 mm. All thrips species that cause damage in green-houses belong to the family Thripidae.

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Life cycle of thrips

Thrips develop through six stages: the egg, two larval instars, a pre-pupa and a pupal instar, and finally the adult insect. The eggs are kidney-shaped and have a white or yellow shell. Before a female deposits an egg, she makes an opening in the plant tissue. The eggs are laid in leaves, flower petals and in the soft parts of stalks. On the leaves of sweet pepper, for instance, these egg-laying sites are recognizable as wart-like growths, whereas on most other crops the egg deposition sites cannot be seen. Larvae and adults feed on all aerial parts of the plant and are fairly mobile. Immediately after hatching, the larvae begin to feed on plant tissue on the underside of the leaf. The larvae are smaller than the adults and lack wings. Depending on the species, thrips either pupate on the plant or in the ground. The pre-pupal and pupal instars are recognizable by their developing wing buds. Compared with the pre-pupa, the pupa has longer, more developed wing buds and longer antennae that are curved back over the head. The pre-pupal and pupal instars do not feed and only move if disturbed. In adults, both pairs of wings are fully developed. Only at this stage can the particular species of thrips be identified based on form, colour and pattern of hairs.

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Egg illustration

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Larva illustration

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Prepupa illustration

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Pupa illustration

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis Adult illustration

Recognize thrips

Thrips adults can be identified by the following characteristics:

Size and shape: Thrips are tiny, slender insects that are typically less than 2 mm in length. They have a distinctive elongated shape, with long, narrow wings that are fringed with fine hairs.
Color: Thrips can be a variety of colors, depending on the species. Most of them are brown or black. Some species may have distinctive markings or stripes on their bodies or wings.
Movement: Thrips are strong fliers and can move quickly between plants. They are often found on the undersides of leaves, where they feed on plant sap.
Damage: Thrips can cause damage to leaves, flowers, and fruits by feeding on plant tissue. This can result in distorted growth, discoloration, or scarring. They may also transmit plant viruses.

Recognize thrips larvae

Thrips larvae are usually pale or transparent in color and have a similar shape to the adults but are smaller and lack wings. One of the most distinctive features of thrips larvae is their characteristic "frass," which is a type of waste material that they produce as they feed. The frass looks like small black or white specks on the surface of leaves or flowers and can sometimes be mistaken for fungal spores or other types of debris.

Thrips damage

Thrips cause damage to the plant by piercing the cells of the surface tissue and sucking out their contents, causing the surrounding tissue to die. The resulting silver-grey patches on leaves and the black dots of their excreta indicate their presence in the crop. At a later stage, the empty cells become desiccated and the adjacent cells turn brown. The vigour of the plant is also reduced by loss of chlorophyll. With a serious infestation the leaves themselves can shrivel, and there can be varying levels of fruit damage depending on the species of thrips and their population density. In ornamentals, flowers can be seriously damaged, while leaves are often damaged and become misshapen. Thrips are also responsible for the transmission of viruses, the best known of which is tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), mainly transmitted by F. occidentalis.

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Thrips damage

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis damage on a chrysanthemum flower

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis damage on phalaenopsis

Leek damage caused by the Onion thrips Thrips tabaci

Leaf damage caused by Impatiens thrips Echinothrips americanus

Thrips species

There are several species of thrips that are important pests in horticulture and agriculture worldwide. Some of the most common species include:

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis): This is a polyphagous species that feeds on a wide range of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. It is one of the most damaging thrips species in many parts of the world
Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci): This species is a major pest of onions and other allium crops
Chilli trips (Scirtothrips dorsalis): This is a polyphagous species and is a pest in berries and many other crops
Citrus thrips (Scirtothrips aurantii): This species is a major pest of citrus crops
Rose thrips (Thrips fuscipennis): This species is a major pest of strawberry, roses and other ornamental plants
Impatiens thrips (Echinothrips americanus): This is a pest of pepper crops
Japanese flower thrips (Thrips setosus): This species is a major pest in ornamental crops

Black tea thrips

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis

Impatiens thrips

Echinothrips americanus

Onion thrips

Thrips tabaci

Western flower thrips

Frankliniella occidentalis

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How to prevent thrips

Preventing a thrips infestation in your greenhouse crop involves several strategies. Firstly, it's important to maintain good plant health through regular irrigation and fertilization, as stressed plants are more susceptible to thrips infestations. Additionally, it's important to make sure thrips cannot enter your greenhouse by using hygienic measures, such as regularly cleaning and disinfecting greenhouse surfaces and equipment.

It's also important to monitor your crop regularly for signs of thrips, so you can detect an infestation early and take action. This can be done by using sticky traps, which are attractive to thrips and can help trap them before they can cause damage. You can also scout the plants visually to look for signs of thrips, such as distorted leaves or silvery streaks.

Finally, introducing biological control agents such as predatory mites can be an effective preventative measure, as these natural enemies can help keep thrips populations in check. Predatory mites in sachets can be a good preventive measure as the sachets enable a continuous supply of predatory mites even before the pest is present.