• Thrips go through six stages, namely egg, two larval stages, prepupal and pupal stage and finally the adult stage:
• The adult thrips are found in flowers and on leaves where they deposit their eggs.
• The larvae feed on all above ground parts of the plant and are extremely mobile.
• Pupation takes place on the ground or surface of the growing media.

Damage

Generally, it is the feeding habits of thrips that cause significant damage to your plants. Thrip larvae pierce the surface of the leaf in order to feed off the liquid in the plant's cells. This results in poor growth and loss of plant colour. Thrips lay eggs inside leaf and flower structures, which contributes to poor plant health. They can also spread infection from plant to plant.

The most damaging virus transmitted by thrips is Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV).

For information on pest control, please see our 'Integrated Pest Management' article.