Thrips

Also known as thunderbugs, thunderflies and corn lice, thrips are small insects. Some thrips have fringed wings; in fact, the name of the Order Thysanoptera, is derived from the Greek words for fringe (thysanos) and wing (pteron). More than 5,000 species of thrips have been identified. Thrips vary in size, though most measure approximately one millimeter in length.

Thrips use their maxillary stylets to puncture the outer layer of plants or the skin of animals, from which they extract sap, blood or other fluids. After feeding on plants, thrips leave visible signs of damage such as deformities and blackening of the skin. Thrips may also lay their eggs on fruits and crops, resulting in small discolorations surrounded by white haloes.

Flower thrips cause equal damage to ornamental crops. These thrips are yellow, orange or amber in color. In addition to marring the appearance of flowers, these thrips can spread a number of diseases, such as the tomato spotted wilt virus and the necrotic spot virus. Flower thrips typically grow in population during spring.

Because their feeding habits destroy a number of commercial crops, thrips are considered especially problematic in agricultural communities. They are known to proliferate quickly and swarm heavily in areas with crops. Thrips do invade homes and some species have been known to bite humans. If thrips populations are not controlled, affected flowering plants may lose their ability to produce.