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Identifying thrips on Tomato
Silver streaks or scarring on leaves and fruit, with tiny slender insects visible on close inspection of flowers and new growth.
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Life cycle
Multiple generations per year. Pupate in soil. Spread rapidly in warm conditions.
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Damage to Tomato
Thrips scar the surface of both leaves and developing fruit, and can transmit tomato spotted wilt virus, which is often far more damaging than the direct feeding.
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How to treat thrips on Tomato
Use blue sticky traps to monitor and catch adults, remove heavily infested flowers and growth, and treat with spinosad or neem oil.
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Preventing thrips on Tomato
Remove weeds and plant debris nearby where thrips can overwinter, and inspect new transplants before planting them out.