The life cycle of thrips

Summary

Thrips are a significant pest in greenhouses and horticulture, easily overwintering and attacking plants early in the season. Their eggs are laid in plant tissue, and after hatching, the larvae feed on the plants. As they mature, thrips pupate in the ground or on leaves. They cause damage by piercing plant cells, leaving silver-gray patches and black excreta, and can transmit viruses. However, they can be controlled through natural enemies. For more details on agricultural pests, visit the YouTube channel and website.

Takeaways

• 🐜 Thrips are a significant issue in greenhouse horticulture and can survive through winter, attacking plants early in the season.
• 🥚 Thrips' eggs are kidney-shaped and are laid in plant leaves, flower petals, and soft stalk tissues.
• 🌱 Before laying an egg, female thrips create an opening in the plant tissue.
• 🍂 After hatching, the larvae immediately begin feeding on plant tissue.
• 🦗 The first instar larva molts into a larger, more colorful second instar larva.
• 🌍 At the end of the second instar stage, larvae usually drop to the ground to pupate, finding crevices or lower leaf surfaces.
• 🦋 The pre-pupal and pupal stages can be identified by developing wing buds.
• 🪲 Adult thrips have fully developed fringed wings and cause plant damage by piercing cell surfaces and sucking out contents, leaving gray patches and black excreta.
• 🦠 Thrips are also responsible for transmitting viruses to plants.
• 🐞 Natural enemies can effectively control thrips infestations.

Q & A

What are thrips, and where do they pose a problem?

Thrips are small insects that are major pests in greenhouses and horticulture, where they cause significant damage to plants.

How do thrips survive through the winter and reappear in the growing season?

Thrips can easily overwinter, allowing them to survive through the winter and attack plants early in the growing season.

Where do female thrips lay their eggs?

Female thrips lay their kidney-shaped eggs in plant tissues, including leaves, flower petals, and soft parts of stalks.

What process do female thrips undergo before laying eggs?

Before laying an egg, a female thrip creates an opening in the plant tissue to deposit the egg.

What do thrip larvae do immediately after hatching?

After hatching, thrip larvae immediately begin feeding on plant tissue.

What changes occur in the larval stage of thrips?

Thrips progress through two larval stages. The second instar is larger and has more color. After this stage, they usually fall to the ground to pupate.

Where do thrips pupate, and what are the pupal stages characterized by?

Thrips pupate in natural crevices in the ground or on lower leaf surfaces. The pre-pupal and pupal stages are marked by the development of wing buds.

How do adult thrips look, and what distinguishes them?

Adult thrips have fully developed fringed wings, which make them easily recognizable.

What type of damage do thrips cause to plants?

Thrips pierce plant cells and suck out their contents, causing tissue death. This results in silver-gray patches on leaves and black dots from their excreta.

Besides physical damage, what other threat do thrips pose to crops?

Thrips are also known to transmit viruses, which can further harm crops.

How can thrips be controlled naturally?

Thrips can be managed using a range of natural enemies, which can help control their population.