This thrips probably originated in Central and South America. The greenhouse thrips has over 100 hosts, principally greenhouse and ornamental plants, but also a few crops and tropical plants. Some of the hosts are azalea, begonia, croton, cyclamen, ferns, fuschia, grape vines, orchids, palm, and rose. This thrips feeds almost entirely on the foliage, and large populations cause severe damage. Greenhouse thrips usually injure inner leaves and fruit.
Damaged leaves appear silvery or bleached and, if the damage is severe enough, turn yellow and drop.
Fruit that has been attached is brown, cracked, and has noticeable sunken areas. Dark spots of excrement are often noticeable on the leaves and fruit. Each female deposits 25 to 50 eggs in slits in the leaves. Under optimum conditions the time for development is 17 to 20 days for the eggs, about 13 days for the two larval instars, and about 5 days for the prepupal and pupal stages. The adults can live 7 weeks on plants growing in the greenhouse.