Post by Garden Care on Jun 21, 2011 17:46:30 GMT
Some advice on Thrips...
Look for:
Small silver patches and black dots on the leaves. Feeding thrips can also turn petals on flowers brown. New growth can be distorted, browning and curled.
Plants affected:
Virtually all garden plants can be affected, from ornamental species, to fruit, vegetable, and cereal crops. Flowers and leaves of plants are most affected.
About Thrips:
Thrips are sometimes known as thunderflies or thunderbugs.
There are over 3000 recorded species worldwide, with over 150 in the UK.
They are typically small, slender, dark-coloured insects about 2mm long or less and usually have two pairs of feather-like wings.
Thrips rasp through upper leaf cells to feed on plant sap, causing a silvering appearance.
Thrip droppings are minute black specks on the leaves.
Thrips have six lifecycle stages including egg, larvae, pupa and adult.
Larvae and pupae can be a lighter colour than adults.
Females have a serrated tube for laying eggs into plant tissue.
They are predominantly a summer pest, favouring warm temperatures and dry conditions.
Thundery conditions trigger swarming.
Some species can transmit viruses such as tomato spotted wilt virus.
Treatment:
Chemical:
products containing the following chemical ingredients are all effective on Thrips
Pyrethrins
Methiocarb
Note: It is important to read manufacturer's instructions for use and the associated safety data information before applying chemical treatments.
Organic:
Release the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris, and predatory bug Orius laevigatus.
Spray organic plant oils approved for use on plants.
Remove and destroy infested leaves, particularly silvery areas where eggs are present.
Prevention:
Thoroughly clean greenhouses at the end of the season to remove any over-wintering thrips.
Use sticky traps to monitor the first appearance of thrips. Blue coloured traps are thought to be more effective than other colours.
Netting and fleeces can be used as a barrier between plants.
Look for:
Small silver patches and black dots on the leaves. Feeding thrips can also turn petals on flowers brown. New growth can be distorted, browning and curled.
Plants affected:
Virtually all garden plants can be affected, from ornamental species, to fruit, vegetable, and cereal crops. Flowers and leaves of plants are most affected.
About Thrips:
Thrips are sometimes known as thunderflies or thunderbugs.
There are over 3000 recorded species worldwide, with over 150 in the UK.
They are typically small, slender, dark-coloured insects about 2mm long or less and usually have two pairs of feather-like wings.
Thrips rasp through upper leaf cells to feed on plant sap, causing a silvering appearance.
Thrip droppings are minute black specks on the leaves.
Thrips have six lifecycle stages including egg, larvae, pupa and adult.
Larvae and pupae can be a lighter colour than adults.
Females have a serrated tube for laying eggs into plant tissue.
They are predominantly a summer pest, favouring warm temperatures and dry conditions.
Thundery conditions trigger swarming.
Some species can transmit viruses such as tomato spotted wilt virus.
Treatment:
Chemical:
products containing the following chemical ingredients are all effective on Thrips
Pyrethrins
Methiocarb
Note: It is important to read manufacturer's instructions for use and the associated safety data information before applying chemical treatments.
Organic:
Release the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris, and predatory bug Orius laevigatus.
Spray organic plant oils approved for use on plants.
Remove and destroy infested leaves, particularly silvery areas where eggs are present.
Prevention:
Thoroughly clean greenhouses at the end of the season to remove any over-wintering thrips.
Use sticky traps to monitor the first appearance of thrips. Blue coloured traps are thought to be more effective than other colours.
Netting and fleeces can be used as a barrier between plants.