Thrips

From: eduardo gomes goncalves <eggon at guarany.cpd.unb.br> on 1997.09.27 at 02:50:18(1349) Dear aroid people, Some time ago I asked some help with the control of slugs that was chewing my living collection. I have follow your tips and the monsters are controlled. Now I have another enemy to fight. THRIPS!!! They are under the leaves of a lot of plants (Arisarum, Zantedeschia, Urospatha, Dracontioides, Gearum, Typhonodorum, etc) and causes golden spots in the blade. Seriously attacked leaves can dry out completely. I checked the horticultural links at the IAS home page and found out it could be the Greenhouse Thrip (Heliothrips haemorroidalis), that grows in warm and humid environment. Obviously, it can be another species (remember: I'm living in a tropical country and there are insects everywhere!), but it matches very well the description. They are said to occur only in greenhouses there in the USA and Europe and mine aren't greenhouse plants. Meanwhile, Brazil itself is a big greenhouse! I'm completely stupid about pest control. What should I do? Thanks in advance, Eduardo. +More P.S. Who will be the next enemy in my garden? Martians?

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