Can Thrips Fly?
Can Thrips Fly?
Thrips have wings and can fly, but their flying ability is weak. Understanding their flight habits helps with better control.
Thrips Flight Capability
- Thrips have two pairs of narrow wings with fringe hairs along the edges
- Flight distance is very short. They usually only make short hops
- They primarily rely on wind dispersal to reach more distant locations
- Flight is slow and wobbly
How Thrips Spread
Thrips spread between plants in the following ways:
- Short-distance flight, From one plant to the next. A few pots on a balcony can cross-contaminate each other
- Wind dispersal, Carried by the wind to more distant locations
- Hitching a ride on plants, Brought home on infested plants or cut flowers you buy
- On clothing and tools, After being in an area with dense thrips, they may cling to clothing or tools and be carried home
What This Means for Control
- If one pot has thrips, check and treat all neighboring pots too
- Don't crowd plants too closely on the balcony. Maintain spacing
- Isolate newly purchased plants for observation for a few days
- Installing window screens can block some thrips from flying indoors
Thrips and People
- Thrips don't bite or suck blood
- They may occasionally land on people or crawl on skin, causing a tickling sensation, but this isn't a bite, just the sensation of them crawling
- When outdoors (especially in gardens), thrips may fly onto your face or clothing
- Just blow them off or brush them away