They hold their four hair-fringed wings flat over their backs. Adults can live 30 to 45 days. Thrips feed by piercing plant cells with their mouthparts and sucking out the cellular contents. The damage to plant cells caused by thrips feeding can result in deformation of flowers, leaves and shoots. There is often silvery streaking and flecking on expanded leaves.
Thrips often deposit tiny greenish-black fecal specks on leaves when they feed.
Thrips management Thrips management involves early detection and identification of the insect, followed by a vigorous control program. Tap the plant with a pencil while holding a sheet of white paper to catch any falling insects. Check white and yellow flowers with a hand lens. Remove and destroy heavily infested flowers. Isolate incoming plants from all other plants in the greenhouse until certain they are free of thrips.