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Signs of damage
Symptoms will depend on species and host:
- Galls. Abnormal swelling outgrowths of tissues that resemble a wart-like structure.
- Wilting and discoloration of leaves. Affected areas will show small dark spots that result from excremental fluids.
- Leaf silvering. Spreading silver-colored dust across the leaves.
- Leaf distortion.
- Necrosis.
- Leaf, fruit, and flower falling.
- Marble or net-like dried patterns across fruits.
- Transmission of viral diseases. These insects are known for being vectors of tospovirus.
How to prevent
This issue is difficult to control, but monitoring and employing good care practices and catering plants' needs help reduce the incidence risk. The presence of natural enemies and predators is a natural way to control these populations, but insecticides can also be used preventively.
To tackle the early stages of these insects' spread, they can be removed by branch beating or gently shaking plants' foliage onto a light-colored paper or cloth to kill them and free plants from their presence. Galled parts should also be pruned.
Heal
Remove damaged parts and employ non-toxic insecticides.
Keep in mind that some of the damage your plants are displaying might not be from thrips but from a subsequent viral disease. This is important for choosing an adequate healing strategy since some viral diseases don't have a cure.
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