Life Cycle Female thrips lay their eggs in tiny slits cut into the surface of leaves, flowers and stems. The eggs can be laid any time of year and hatch within a few days in warm, indoor conditions. The young, called nymphs, are cream to pale green and only visible with magnification. They feed for 7-14 days. Full grown nymphs, in most species, drop off the plant to the soil where they burrow down and pupate.
Winged adults emerge to complete the cycle.
Integrated Pest Management Strategies 1. Keep plants moist. Plants that are kept too dry are more likely to be damage by thrips. To limit damage or reduce future damage after other initial control measures are used, keep plants moist and increase humidity. Use insecticidal soap.