Latin: Thysanoptera
In Danish Thrips are also known as thunder flies, the name thunder flies emerged as the thrips are more active on warmer days, where there may be an upcoming thunderstorm. In Denmark we find more than 100 different species of thrips, and they are quite difficult to distinguish from each other.
Appearance
The thrips, also referred to as Thysanoptera, are small, dark insects. Typically, it will only grow up to 2 mm. In Denmark, the thrips are also known as cholera flies, as they were seen in Copenhagen during the cholera year 1853, where they mistakenly were linked to the disease.
Biology and behavior
This pest is, unlike many other pests, particularly attached to plants. Here they suck the sap from the plants to survive, and this will typically be visible on leaves and flowers. Which will get a silvery surface because air enters the cells that the pest has emptied.
Thrips are laid as eggs; the laying will typically take place without fertilization. The eggs will be placed in selected location with a laying tube that is a sawtooth and can penetrate the plant tissue in which the eggs are laid. Thrips find it difficult to fly, therefore they will only as flying pest on calm windless and warm days.
Damage
The pest can in some cases have serious consequences for plants and flowers, especially on ornamental plants and in greenhouses. However, it is important to mention another function of this species, as they do pollinate various wild plants.
Thrips does not only appear as plant suckers. They may also drill their mouth parts into the human skin, which may result in minor skin irritations in the form of itching and redness of the skin. Thrips can also jump and can at times be compared to fleas.
Prevention and pest control
Due to the thrips small size, they can hide in small gabs. They can be found behind wallpaper, behind the glass on picture frames as well as other places with tiny gabs, which makes it difficult to keep them outside the home.
However, you can prevent them, by keeping both windows and doors closed on hot summer days. If they do enter, they will die after a few days.
Thrips will typically occur in large numbers, which is also the reason why it can be a challenge to keep them outside the house. To keep the trips out of the home, you can invest in dense mosquito nets as they cannot penetrate those, this gives you the opportunity to ventilate thoroughly on hot days, but still prevent the small pests. If you experience many thrips indoors, you can control these with spray that is suitable for controlling flying insects. If you experience plant attacks, it will be beneficial to seek advice and guidance from a garden center. As they can give you the right knowledge on how to fight the thrips.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)