Diagnosing thrips in lupins

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and plague thrips (Thrips imagines) are 2mm long, cigar shaped and range in colour from yellow-orange to dark grey. Adults and nymphs pierce plant tissue and suck sap. Control is rarely warranted for this pest.

Thrips
Distorted leaves

What to look for

    Plant

  • Adults and nymphs pierce plant tissue and suck sap, producing distorted leaves.
  • Flower abortion abortion occurs in extreme cases.

    Insect Adult

  • Adults are 2mm long, cigar-shaped and range in colour from yellow-orange to dark grey. They have tiny narrow wings folded over the back.
  • Nymphs are similar in shape, pale yellow to orange-yellow, wingless and smaller in size.

What else could it be

Condition Similarities Differences
Diagnosing aphids in narrow-leafed lupins Distorted leaves Aphids easily seen
Diagnosing cucumber mosaic virus in narrow-leafed lupins Distorted leaves Virus causes young leaves to be pale and bunched. As infection continues entire plant can be affected. Thrips cause only some leaves to be distorted.

Where did it come from?

Alternate host
Alternate host

    Management strategies

    • Thrips rarely cause damage to warrant control.

    Where to go for expert help

    Page last updated: Wednesday, 26 April 2017 - 1:03pm