Broccoli, Cole crops: Thrips

categories: Broccoli, Cole Crops Broccoli, Cole crops Insects Vegetables

revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00

White speckling damage on pea leaf caused by thrips.
White speckling damage on pea leaf caused by thrips
Photo by: A.L. Antonelli

Biology

Thrips are tiny (≤1⁄20″), elongate, yellowish to dark insects. Thrips feeding can result in whitish stippling or streaking of leaves. Buds may be damaged, resulting in misshapen plant parts. Thrips are an occasional problem in cabbage.

Management Options

Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Non-chemical Management

Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

  • Predacious thrips, green lacewing larvae, and minute pirate bugs are important predators of plant-feeding thrips. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides which kill these and other beneficial insects.
  • Control weeds, which can be important alternate hosts for plant-feeding thrips.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

  • Apply products according to label instructions when thrips or early damage is first observed.

Approved Pesticides

Listed below are examples of pesticides that are legal in Washington. Always read and follow all label directions.

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