What do thrips look like and how to get rid of them?

Knowing what thrips look like and how to get rid of them on houseplants and other crops, people only benefit. Having figured out what it is, you can find out when to start fighting with special drugs. It is also important to figure out how to deal with pests on grapes and peppers.

The very name thrips was assigned not to one species, but to a whole group of especially small insects with an oblong body. They have synonyms - bladderworm and fringed-winged - the reason is that such a group has been repeatedly renamed. Thrips were described in 1744. The honor of their discovery belongs to Karl de Geer, but then the well-known Linnaeus renamed the genus Physapus to Thrips. In 1836, the British entomologist Holiday raised their rank to a troop.

It is not difficult to understand what thrips look like - they are very different from other insects in their peculiar structure. The body length most often does not exceed 0.5-1.5 mm. Only in the tropics are there individual species with a significantly greater length. The head ends in a powerful bevel of the forehead, and the lower lip is shaped like a triangle. Antennae not too long; they have 6 to 9 segments.

The oral apparatus is built according to the piercing-sucking scheme. The bristles not only prick; grooved grooves transform them into a suction tube. Therefore, thrips are typically fed with vegetable juices. But some species are more predators. This order of insects is also unique in terms of flight.

The two pairs of wings are narrow and long. A whole "fringe" of cilia develops on their edges, but there are very few veins. Therefore, thrips flutter between neighboring plants; it is difficult for them to fly a long distance, and this is mainly due to migration between feeding zones. The epithet "vesiculate" is due to the structural features of the undercarriage: the legs are short, while the thighs are thicker. Thrips are closely related to plants throughout their life.

About 2000 species of such insects are known; about 230 of their varieties live in the post-Soviet space. The thrips larva looks like a small, inactive point. Adults are larger and move much faster. Reproduction is very fast. During the year, some of these insects will be able to give several generations; by themselves, thrips are not dangerous to humans, they do not bite him - but when processing infected plantings, arthropods can get into the eyes or into the respiratory tract.

It is worth starting the review with a common thrips. This species is colored dark brown. The body length is 1.2 mm. You can meet such an insect on many cultivated plants. The harm from it is very great.

California thrips are common in greenhouses. It is a broad polyphage that actively attacks useful plants. The decorative species, like the variegated species, is colored dark brown. It is characterized by sexual dimorphism. This species of insects got its name for its special tendency to attack ornamental crops.

The danger is especially great for:

• orchids;

• crinums;

• tradescantia;

• cacti;

• coleus;

• palm trees;

• begonias.

You can also often encounter:

• Dracaenov;

• rosy;

• tobacco;

• linseed;

• bulbous thrips.

Thrips are very stealthy. They always begin to inhabit one plant. But there are a number of points that can alert you at an early stage. For example, when pollen spills out from the flowers themselves, although no wind or pollinating insects were noticed. The formation of small white and silvery specks on foliage should also cause concern.

An accurate check will require plucking the flower. It will need to be shaken thoroughly over white paper.

Other warning signs:

• discoloration of individual areas;

• the appearance of light yellow spots on the leaves;

• dying off of plant tissues where insects pierce them;

• wilting of leaves;

• loss of decorativeness of flowers;

• gross deformation of the buds;

• curvature of shoots.

Traditionally, they try to fight this pest with the help of entomophages. The best among them is the special bug Orius laevigatus. It is worth noting that such a predator actively hunts for spider mites and aphids. An alternative is to use a macrolofus. Along with the natural enemies of the vesicles themselves, biological products can also be used - for example, verticillin.

When selecting insecticides against thrips, it is necessary to take into account the level of environmental hazard and the effectiveness of the penetration of the agent into the leaf. It is necessary to understand that such means are incompatible by default with a biological method of protection, and it is necessary to choose strictly one thing. Under the influence of chemicals, the population of entomophages is almost steadily declining. Among the preparations for the fight against thrips, Talstar is well suited.

The product is supplied in 5 liter cans. The key active ingredient is bifenthrin. Under its influence, the work of cell membranes is disrupted. Symptoms in insects are about the same as when exposed to organochlorine substances. The repellent effect of bifenthrin is also worth noting.

It also helps to kill thrips:

• Spintor 240;

• "Atom";

• Iskra-M;

• "Karbofos";

• "Kemifos";

• "Kung Fu";

• "Northwind";

• Ivanhoe.

Vertimek is also appreciated for its high speed of action. It is recommended to avoid processing with this product at high temperature and humidity. The disadvantage of the drug is its very high toxicity for both humans and bees. Therefore, the use of the tool should be done with caution. Another option is Fitoverm.

This drug cannot boast of a special speed of action. Its active ingredient, however, does not cause a quick addiction. The product is suitable for use just before the harvest (1-3 days). Fitoverm is expensive, which will not please all consumers. When choosing an insecticide, one should look at whether it penetrates the fruit or not.

Treatment with improvised means is often practiced at home and in summer cottages, when it is not possible to apply professional chemicals or biological remedies. Moreover, such solutions are less toxic and do not pose an increased danger. They cope well with small infestations. Ammonia is considered a good remedy. Its teaspoon is mixed with shaved soap and dissolved in warm water.

You can also use:

• infusion of dry marigolds;

• onion and garlic tincture;

• infusion of dandelion roots or leaves;

• infusion of pharmacy chamomile mixed with green soap;

• infusion of dried tomato leaves.

You can eliminate thrips on gloxinia with the help of Fitoverm. In advanced cases, however, you have to rip off the plants and hope that they will still be able to start a new development cycle. On petunias, these insects also appear very often. The solution to the problem is provided with the help of insecticides. Often the following are used:

• Aktara;

• "Confidor";

• Spintor-240.

When insects appear on pelargonium, sticky blue traps must be used. The protection of the youngest plants, which suffer more than other specimens, is especially relevant. In serious cases, insecticides are used. The treatment is repeated after 4-5 days in order to capture all stages of the pest development. But thrips are also found on a number of other decorative crops.

They often appear, for example, on succulents. Yellow sticky traps can help fight them. The use of "Aktofit" can be a good option. Sometimes Phytocomplexon is also used. This product is appreciated for its excellent environmental friendliness.

Invasions of fringed winged birds often affect pepper. The fight against them is carried out with the help of:

• spraying with infusions on the foliage of dandelions, tobacco;

• garlic infusions;

• planting mint and basil around the perimeter;

• mustard solution.

The more pests appear on eggplants, the smoother the lower surface of their leaves. Therefore, choosing varieties with pubescent foliage, gardeners only benefit. And yet it is sometimes necessary to treat plants with protective agents. It is necessary to protect seedlings and adult plantings from sucking insects by cutting out the affected parts of the plants, since they will already be useless. Fitoverm is considered the best preserving agent.

Contrary to popular belief, thrips even appear on onions. They will winter in the adult format and will be completely protected from any land cultivation. Contact insecticides are effective only against very young larvae. New specimens will appear constantly, and it will definitely not work to knock out all the livestock with one treatment. It is important to use a whole ensemble of contact and systemic means, since pests can easily adapt to one composition.

And even on garlic, these insects may well appear. Dry warming up to 42-43 degrees helps to cope with the problem. This temperature is maintained for 48 hours. An alternative is to damp heat to 45 degrees for 10 minutes (if you raise the temperature to 50 degrees, you can reduce the treatment to 5 minutes). Of the branded drugs, Karate Zeon and Fastak are recommended.

Farmers often come across thrips on grapes. They need to track the defeat with special care. It is advisable to poison pests with pyrethroids or organophosphates. The use of zeolite helps to some extent. The use of biological opponents of the pest in this case has not yet emerged from the experimental stage.

Thrips attack soybeans as well. In this case, they resort mainly to agrotechnical control measures. Stubble plowing is recommended in the affected areas and in places where the insect may appear. Deep autumn plowing with a skimmer is also expedient. Special problems arise when an insect infests greenhouses.

In this case, the use of glue traps is recommended. In addition to actually suppressing pests, they also serve as good indicators of the degree of infection. In advanced cases, you cannot do without the use of synthetic drugs. Some experts suggest using pheromone traps.But this approach can in no way be the main security measure; it is much more correct to apply also polyphages.

When infected with oleander, there are no specific recommendations. It is worth using insecticides designed to combat this insect, and process the plantings according to the instructions. Thrips willingly settle on asters, peonies and other decorative flowers. An excellent way to stop their invasion is treatment with Confidor.

In addition to "Confidor", it is advised to use "Fitoverm". Given the peculiarities of the insect's life cycle, the soil will also have to be cultivated. Tobacco thrips can be found on watermelons, melons and other melons. The key role in the fight against it then has the merciless elimination of weeds (serving as a natural reservoir). At an early stage of the lesion, spraying with infusions of insectoid plants is recommended; from special preparations "Kemifos" is shown.

Fighting thrips on chamomile differs little from countering it on other indoor plants - peonies, chrysanthemums, ficuses. All infected specimens are isolated and carefully washed under running water. Washing away the insects in itself improves the situation. In winter, flowers are treated with special preparations, mainly in bathrooms. The floors are then immediately washed; if after 2 treatments with an interval of 7-14 days the insects have not disappeared, you will have to urgently change the chemical and repeat the treatment with a new one, or part with the flowers.

Sometimes thrips also live on hydrangeas. The approach to dealing with them does not differ from the protection of other ornamental crops. As for the infestation of apple trees, the approach to it will be approximately the same as for the settlement of melons and gourds.

It is most correct to buy a ready-made branded primer. If they take soil for planting from their vegetable garden or garden, it is required to disinfect it. A good option is treatment with "Nemabakt". An alternative is Antonem-F. Bring shop flowers with caution; they should be placed far from indoor plants.

Flowers with an intense aroma often help scare off harmful insects. They can be used in vegetable gardens, in apartments, and in private houses. Tobacco and celandine go well. Instead, they sometimes use marigolds. It should be noted that such plants are also suitable for countering ants.

There are also such recommendations:

• remove any weeds in the fall;

• thoroughly dig or plow the soil to a depth of 0.25-0.27 m;

• any plant residues should not be left on the plots.

Plants should be inspected daily. The defeat sometimes develops very quickly, and therefore only attentive people can stop it at an early stage. If the site has already been affected by thrips before, the topsoil must be removed.