North America's thrips make up an extremely large family of insects. Of the plant feeders alone, there are 264 species. And some of these species have a taste for palm trees, feeding on flowers and leaves by puncturing the surfaces to suck out sap. Thrips are not lethal to palms but the feeding of the adults can discolor and wilt leaves. In addition, in intensive infestations their unsightly black droppings can become noticeable on leaf surfaces.

Description
Thrips are extremely small insects. At maturity, the largest is only an eighth of an inch long and the smallest a minuscule 1/25th of an inch. Identification can be a little difficult as the appearance varies according to the species. In fact, not all thrips are flying insects; some are wingless. Adults are either black or brownish with white, red or black markings. The larvae are whitish or yellowish with red eyes.

The thrips starts life as an egg deposited in plant tissue. Eggs hatch after a period of two to seven days. After hatching, the nymphs go through a series of stages, the final being pupation. Thrips mature very rapidly. The transformation from egg to adult can take place in as little as 11 days with three weeks as a general maximum.

Thrips are not generally fussy eaters feeding on a wide variety of plants as well as palm trees.

Control
The first step in controlling thrips is finding them. Detection can be a challenge given the small size of the insect. Some sources suggest shaking suspect leaves or flowers onto white pieces of paper and then examining them with a magnifying glass. Sticky traps are also available for this purpose. Once detected, insecticides can be an effective way of controlling thrips. Consult your local tree care or landscape specialist for advice. As always in the use of insecticides, remember to follow directions carefully.

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