Carefully examine all pegs and pods for feeding damage. If you find fresh damage or rootworms at 3 of the 10 locations, apply a recommended insecticide. When monitoring for thrips use a small box with a white lining, clipboard, or any other material that is light colored and allows plants to be bent across its surface without destroying the sampling device. Examine terminals for adults and immatures. Young leaves in terminals will become discolored and die under heavy infestations.
Systemic insecticides control thrips and aphids.
Early season control of thrips is extremely important in areas where tomato spotted wilt damage has occurred during the past season. Three-cornered alfalfa hopper. You can often see these triangular bodied insects flying as you move through a field. Examine plants for damage by parting the foliage and closely checking stems for signs of girdling. Both nymphs and adults move around the stem when plants are checked.