Why Pepper Plants Curl and Die: The Thrip Invasion скачать в хорошем качестве

Why Pepper Plants Curl and Die: The Thrip Invasion

Thrips (insects in the family Thysanoptera) are teeny-tiny. You probably won’t notice them on your plant, but what you will notice is the damage they leave behind. These insects feed on the leaves and stems using their tiny, piercing mouthparts, and while that can cause discoloration, deformed growth, and plant stunting, they also spread deadly diseases like tomato spotted wilt virus. I’ve found reflective mulch can really help to keep populations under control. Don’t bother with insecticides because once they bite into your pepper plant, they’ve already transmitted any disease they’re carrying. Avoidance is best. Use reflective mulches early in the season to repel thrips. Put up yellow sticky traps, which are also useful for monitoring aphids, whiteflies, and tomato psyllid, and monitor the movement of thrips.