Symptoms on pepper plants include chlorosis and necrotic spotting of leaves, necrosis of terminal shoots and overall stunting of the plant. There are 4 stages, or instars, between the egg and adult. Durations of each stage vary depending primarily on temperature. Most thrips lay eggs, but some species can birth live young. Generations are continuous in Hawaii and thrips of all stages may be found on the same locality of the plant.
Populations are highest during the spring and summer months and decline during fall and winter.
Prolonged wet weather is detrimental to thrips development. EGGS Western flower thrips eggs are opaque and kidney-shaped. They are partially or completely inserted into an incision made into the parenchyma tissue of leaves, flowers or fruit by the saw-like ovipositor of the female. The first instar larvae are white or nearly transparent at first and turn yellow, orange, crimson, or even purple later. They begin feeding immediately.