This species of thrips is primarily a pest in greenhouses, but is capable of causing severe damage to a variety of field crops. As well as attacking produce directly, it is a major vector of several viral diseases of plants. It has many hosts, having being recorded from 244 plant species. The adult is a slender, narrow, flattened insect about 2 mm in length. The females are slightly larger than the males, and vary in colour from yellow to pale brown.
Males are pale yellow.
Life cycle the western flower thrips will reproduce throughout the year. In greenhouses it may produce 12 to 15 generations each year. Each female lays from 20 to 40 eggs. The eggs are laid in the upper layers of leaves, flowers and fruits. The thrips may even lay eggs in closed flower buds, which makes it very difficult to control.