Thursday, March 06, 2008
Thrip-Killing! Yeah!
Ok, the title of this blog is a bit violent, but thrips are nasty pests that all growers can experience without evening knowing it. They are small rice shaped 1/16-1/8 of an inch in diameter, adult thrips have wings and the larvae are legless. They usually appear hiding on leaf undersides but when active can be seen on the tops of leaf surfaces, on the tops of plants, and depending on the species INSIDE FLOWERS and FRUITS! They feed by rasping the leaf tissue causing silvery blotches of skeletonized tissue to appear on the leaves, black dots which is thrip feces (disgusting) appears on leaves as well. This method of feeding sucks the plant of it's vitality. The sad thing is that these pests can cause unsightly damage to flowers, flower buds, and developing foliage as well as transmit viruses and weaken the plant which results in poor health and a reduction in yield. I should know because I've been a victim of their attack up until now. Not only that, but I've cut open a store bought bell pepper to discover thrips growing and feeding INSIDE THE FRUIT!!! ((gross)) Where do they come from, how did they get inside a bell pepper you ask? But you should be asking "How do you get RID OF/KILL THRIPS?" The answer: Spinosad. We now carry 2 different products in our stores that contain Spinosad. Spinosad was found naturally growing on the floor of a rum distillery in the early nineties and is a safe, effective control for thrips, caterpillars, and other insects! Apply Spinosad, and say "Sionaara/Goodbye thrips." Then sing the song "Thrip-Killin!" at full volume. Reports from our friends say they are now officially Thrip Killers!
