Symptoms
Silvery streaks and stippling on leaves, distorted or curled new growth, black fecal dots on leaf surface. Flowers may be distorted or fail to set fruit.
Prevention
Use blue or yellow sticky traps for monitoring. Avoid overhead irrigation which can spread thrips. Remove crop debris. Encourage natural predators such as predatory mites and minute pirate bugs.
Treatment
Organic
Spray neem oil or spinosad. Release predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris). Apply insecticidal soap to leaf undersides. Use reflective mulch to disorient adults.
Chemical (last resort)
Apply imidacloprid, abamectin, or spinosad-based insecticides. Rotate chemical groups to prevent resistance. Observe PHI strictly for edible crops.
Affects 4 crops
Sources
MARDI Pest Guide; DOA IPM Manual