(Frankliniella tritici)
Flower thrips are the most abundant and widely distributed thrips in the country. They live inside the buds and flowers of many garden plants. Both the immature and the adult thrips feed on plant sap by rasping the tissue. The injured petal tissue turns brown and the young expanding leaves become deformed. Injured flower buds usually fail to open. Thrips initially breed on grasses and weeds. When these plants begin to dry up or are harvested, the insects migrate to succulent green ornamental plants. The adults lay their eggs by inserting them into the plant tissue. A complete life cycle may occur in 2 weeks, so populations can build up rapidly. Most damage to roses occurs in early summer.
Thrips are difficult to control because they continuously migrate to roses from other plants. Immediately remove and destroy infested buds and blooms. Spray with an insecticide containing acephate 3 times at intervals of 7 to 10 days.
Plant Care for Rosa