February 2025 - Thrips
Apr 01, 2026
How to Control Thrips Before They Become a Problem
Thrips are one of the most difficult pests to manage because they often go unnoticed until populations are already high. In the February edition of Koppert Corner, published through GrowerTalks, we focused on Western Flower Thrips and why they are especially challenging to detect and control early.
One of the key challenges with thrips is that damage does not always appear right away. In many crops, thrips reproduce in hidden areas such as the crown of the plant or just below the soil surface. This allows populations to build without clear warning signs. By the time visible damage appears, numbers may already be high enough to make control more difficult.
Thrips also reproduce quickly. Under favorable conditions, populations can increase exponentially in a short period of time. This makes early monitoring and intervention critical, particularly before plants are combined into larger arrangements or moved into new growing areas.
Why Early Detection Matters
Thrips problems often begin in places growers do not expect, such as component plants or propagation areas. These locations can act as hidden sources that allow thrips to spread into larger plantings later.
Without early detection, what starts as a small, localized issue can quickly expand across multiple plants or containers. Consistent monitoring plays a central role in preventing this type of spread.
Yellow sticky cards are a valuable tool for tracking activity levels and identifying thrips before populations escalate. Regular inspection is just as important as placement, since it allows growers to respond while pressure is still manageable.
Targeting Multiple Life Stages Improves Control
Effective thrips control typically requires addressing more than one life stage. Thrips move between the plant canopy and the growing media as they develop, which means no single approach provides complete control on its own.
Foliar biological treatments help suppress adults and larvae feeding on the plant. Soil based solutions, including beneficial nematodes, target larvae and pupae developing below the surface. Predatory mites can provide additional support, particularly when soil applications are not ideal or when longer term suppression is needed.
Combining approaches that target different stages of the thrips lifecycle produces more consistent results and reduces the chance of populations rebounding.
Applying This at a Smaller Scale
For home growers and smaller operations, the most important takeaway is not to wait for visible damage before taking action. New plants, mixed containers, or material coming from outside sources should always be considered potential entry points.
Starting with preventative measures, monitoring regularly, and treating early gives far better results than reacting after populations have already increased. A proactive approach reduces stress on plants and simplifies long term management.
The Bottom Line
Thrips are difficult to manage not because they are impossible to control, but because they are easy to miss early on. The insights shared in Koppert Corner reinforce that success depends on early detection, consistent monitoring, and targeting multiple stages of the thrips lifecycle.
By taking a preventative approach, growers can avoid larger problems later and maintain healthier plants throughout the growing cycle.
This article is based on the Koppert Corner published in GrowerTalks and adapted for NaturalEnemies.com. To check out the original article, click here: Tomato Royalty; WFT Battles; PGR Details; Ethylene Damage
Want more quick takes from Koppert's Corner on Grower Talks?
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Mealybug Tag-team Takedown - August 2025
Preparing Perennials for Winter - October 2025
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