The wings are brown in color when folded on top of the abdomen. Larvae are pale yellow in color. Feeding damage to foliage is observed on upper and lower leaf surfaces and initially appears as a bronze colored damage along leaf veins. As the thrips population and feeding damage increases bronzing is observed in random patterns between leaf veins. Avocado thrips larvae and adults feed on developing fruit while hidden under the calyx.
Fruit is susceptible to damage until it exceeds the size of a half dollar.
Feeding scars develop from the calyx and as feeding continues scars radiate towards the top of fruit. Currently, very little is known about the reproductive and developmental biology of avocado thrips. It is thought that its biology does not differ radically from that of other Scirtothrips spp. Consequently, it is assumed that females lay eggs in young fruit and leaves and that pupation occurs predominantly in the soil or in cracks and crevices on trees. Second instar larvae and females are probably the most damaging stage as they feed more than first instars, pupae, and males.