Thrips are very small, slender insects that are best seen with a hand lens. Mature western flower thrips are 0.06 inch (1.5 mm) long, while onion thrips are slightly smaller at 0.05 inch (1.3 mm) long. The most distinctive characteristic of thrips is two pairs of wings that are fringed with long hairs. Adults are pale yellow to light brown in color. Immature stages have the same body shape as adults but are lighter in color and are wingless.
Thrips have a very extensive host range, including cereals, onions, garlic, and broadleaved crops, but it is only the species of plants that are infected by Tomato spotted wilt virus and on which the thrips can complete their entire life cycle that play an important role in the disease cycle. In California, the key crop hosts include tomato, pepper, lettuce, radicchio and fava bean. Important weed hosts include cheeseweed (Malva parviflora) sowthistle, (Sonchus oleraceus), and prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola).
The adults are the only life stage that can fly, but they are not strong fliers. Adult thrips can be carried on wind currents, on clothing, and in association with plants. The length of the thrips life cycle (from egg to adult) varies depending on environmental conditions but is generally 30 to 45 days, though it can be as little as 14 days.
DAMAGE
The primary damage caused by thrips to tomatoes is the vectoring of tomato spotted wilt virus. The virus can only be acquired by the immature stage of thrips, whereas plant-to-plant transmission primarily occurs by adults. The adult thrips can transmit the virus for the remainder of their lives, which can last 30 to 45 days. However, the adults do not pass the virus to their progeny (through the egg).
High numbers of thrips can cause damage with their feeding, which distorts plant growth, deforms flowers, and causes white-to-silvery patches on emerging leaves that often have tiny black fecal specks in them.
MANAGEMENT
If possible, avoid planting tomatoes next to onions, garlic, or cereals, because high thrips numbers often build up on these crops. Also, avoid fields near greenhouses where ornamentals (cut flowers) are grown because these plants serve as hosts for the virus and thrips.
Insecticide treatments for thrips are usually not warranted in the Imperial Valley but may be needed for suppression of Tomato spotted wilt virus in the Central Valley and coastal growing areas.
Treatment with foliar insecticide sprays early in the season and continuing through the season as needed may limit in-field spread of Tomato spotted wilt virus to some extent. Soil applied imidacloprid has not been shown to lower virus incidence. Rotate classes of insecticides to minimize insecticide resistance in thrips.
HOW TO GET RID OF FLOWER THRIPS
It is difficult to fight with westren flower thrips.
But it is not impossible.
To prevent plants flowers from flower thrips, controlling and getting rid flower thrips. You can prepare own special organic liquid mixture for flower thrips yourself, both economically and so effective.
To prepare this special organic liquid mixture, You need some ingredients that you can find your country easily, formulation and production process. You need no help and no technıcal support to make this mixture. simple mixing is sufficient.
Below textbook has a formulation and manufacturing process of special organic liquid mixture and methods of application to treat flower thrips. You can produce special organic liquid mixture for western flower thripseasily and apply to plants safety.
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