Thrips

To Get Rid of Thrips:

• Most thrips are sensitive to insecticides and are easy to control. Apply cluster sprays (several sprays at close intervals) of PLANThealth Spectrum to control adult thrips.
• Kiwicare also offer some great natural and BioGro® certified alternatives to deal with insects in your garden. Organic Super Spraying Oil suffocates adult and kills eggs.
• For use on fruit and vegetables we recommend Organic Insect Control with Pyrethrum. Make sure to spray all parts of the plants for most effective treatment.

Control of Thrips in Trees, Shrubs and Ornamentals

• Apply PLANThealth Insect Hit Granules on the the soil around the roots of affected plants. This kills is systemic and taken up by the roots of the plant to control the thrips, other chewing and sap sucking aphids insects directly.

Note: The above retail product PLANThealth Insect Hit Granules has been discontinued. However, if you have a significant problem a commercial option is still available, please contact Kiwicare directly for more information.

Thrips do not usually bite humans, however they are attracted to the bright colours of flowers and if attracted to bright clothing have been known to bite people.

Common New Zealand thrip species include:

• New Zealand flower thrip - Thrips obscuratus
  Cause russet damage to stone fruit as well as living within the flowers of many plants.
• Greenhouse thrips - Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis
  Cause silvering of top surfaces of leaves and leave tiny dark deposits on undersides.
• Gladiolus thrips - Thrips simplex
  Cause flowers to distort and leaves to silver.
• Onion thrips - Thrips tabci
  Attack a variety of vegetables, not just onions. Cause leaf silvering and white streaks.