Verification

[dutch.lover]

I just wanted to verify if the pests I have are indeed thrips. I took pictures of a leaf that was very damaged. Also, the back of the leaves that are damaged that badly have black bits- bug poop probably. So yeah, if anyone could just let me know if they think it's thrips too, that would be great!

Thanks a lot

[attachment=o105814]

[attachment=o105815]

[invision]

sounds more like spider mites there.

[dutch.lover]

i will respectfully disagree with you there. there are no webs, and the bugs that i can see on the plants don't fit the description (if you wanna read more about it check out my thread in Plant Probs "Yellow Wormy Things...")

[TroutBuds]

You don't have to see webs to have a spider mite problem. From my past experiences, I'd say it looks just like mites. It takes a long time to go from you've got to full on webs.

[stinkyattic]

Invision, Trout-
Those pics are the best examples of thrip damage I've seen posted. You can clearly see the short, silvery, glossy 'trails' that their larvae leave as they munch.
Thrips generally also attach the plant from the base up, so damage to the lower leaves appears first, while mites love the heat from the gorw lights and will happily chow down at the top of the plant.
DutchLover, welcome to the world of fighting thrips!!!
-Double-sided tape around the base of the stem to keep more larvae from climbing up
-REgular neem treatment
-Bugbomb if you care to go that route
-Sticky traps LOW DOWN in your garden to catch any stray adults flying around.

[dutch.lover]

AH HA! My mind can finally rest in ease- I was really hoping you would drop by this thread, you are definitely a thrip fighting veteran! Now I can continue my fight... End-All seems to work pretty well at killing them, however it takes a few minutes to knock them out, and I think the spray misses some of the larvae cause they are sooo small. So I am going to spray with End-All more often, and then spray with Neem every two days or so- hopefully to at least stop them from eating the plant. I am bummed that diacromaceous earth stuff is banned in canada- I was thinking of getting some. Well, thanks for all the help Stinky, as usual :)

[stinkyattic]

I think the spray misses some of the larvae cause they are sooo small. ....


...or still under the surface of the soil. Little fuckers.


.. I am bummed that diacromaceous earth stuff is banned in canada- I was thinking of getting some. Well, thanks for all the help Stinky, as usual :)
Yeah I didn't know until KDSpecial told me yesterday!!! I'm gonna smuggle some across the border for all you Canuks! :D The only thing is you have to find me a case of No-Damp to bring back!!!!
Anytime!!

[Cyclonite]

I think you can use construction sand with the same effect of D.E...not sure. Remember to be persistent and treat well after they are gone. I learned that lesson just recently and still pay for it.

[dutch.lover]

yeah... thrips suck, but i am gonna put all this advice into action and hopefully they will all be gone soon. all the sprays i have been using on my plants are giving them a nice shine tho! haha

[harris7]

stinky

do you use any safers products on them

like safers soap or end all

we are currently using end all (it's organic)

how have your results been with these products if you've used them/

[stinkyattic]

I used to use safers soap when I had mealies on my [now deceased] coffee bean tree. Obviously it didn't treat them very well! But I haven't tried any of their products on thrips or whiteflies recently, although I do know that it works well for whiteflies as we used it at the industrial hydro greenhouse where I used to work with great results. Sorry I can't be more helpful!