Thrips

[lily99]

What is a good way to kill thrips without damaging buds? My African violet book suggested cutting off all buds and flowers, and then spraying with a pesticide, but this seems a bit drastic, especially since only one plant was affected. I guess since they fly they could be everywhere by now.

[camille1585]

Pesticides are the most effective thrips treatment in my experience (especially ones containing bifenthrine as the main ingredient, but I don't know if this active ingredient is licensed for use in the USA). The reason the book recommends removing the flowers is because pollen is the thrips main source of food. However I think orchid pollen is less accessible than in african violets, so removing the flowers may not be necessary. If you see flowers infested with thrips, I would take those off. I would spray the plant 3 times, a week apart, to get the new lavae and adults ( because eggs and pupae are not affected by the treatment.)
You can also monitor the thrips population with yellow or blue sticky traps. This can help you see if the have spread to your other plants!

[lily99]

Thanks for the advice. I think the active ingredient is sold in the US. There are a lot of garden stores where I live, so I should be able to find something.