Scales can be found feeding on leaves, petioles, or stems. They are usually distinct from the plant material on which they are feeding. The adults have very short antennae. No known damage is caused by larvae. This insect is believed to feed only on algae.
Adults emerge and fly around in retail shops, homes, or offices and are therefore a nuisance.
Control - Reduce the amount of water applied to each pot where possible. Avoid algae growth on walkways, benches, and cooling pads on which they feed. Chemicals are not believed to be very effective in the control of this pest. Adult thrips can be identified by a long fringe of hair around the margins of both pairs of wings. Color varies between species with western and other flower thrips being yellow to light brown and banded greenhouse thrips and a few other thrips that feed mainly on leaves being dark brown to black.