Reproduction is entirely parthenogenetic . The female lives for 12 to 17 days and lays 30 eggs on average, after a feeding period of a few days. In southern Europe, up to 5 generations may occur in the open. This species usually overwinters as females sheltering in the soil. In the glasshouse, colonies may be very large and direct damage is often severe.
Infested foliage is disfigured by many silvery marks corresponding to groups of empty cells.
This symptom is typically associated with the presence of specks of black frass. Flower petals may also become discoloured and deformed. In the open, populations may be very large during hot, dry weather. However, this thrips is usually harmful because it acts as a vector of spotted-wilt virus on tomato. Damage on leaflet of alfalfa Emptied cells take on a greyish coloration.