Trips

He trip It is a tiny, winged insect belonging to the family Thysanoptera. Thrips typically measure between 1 and 2 mm in length and can be white, gray, yellowish, or brown. There are more than 5,600 different species of thrips, although the one that generally attacks cannabis plants is Frankliniella occidentalis.

Thanks to its wings, it can jump and fly from branch to branch and even to other nearby plants with ease. Thrips thrive in temperatures between 15°C and 36°C. Special care must be taken in indoor grows, as the temperature between 20°C and 25°C is ideal for their development.

It's not one of the most devastating cannabis pests. It won't wipe out your entire harvest, but it will affect production yield and the quality of the harvest.

Thrips are a polyphagous pest, able to overwinter in other host plants in the surrounding area while waiting for a preferred plant such as cannabis.

Damage caused by thrips

They use their mandibles to gnaw at the leaves and suck the sap, leaving characteristic rectangular, white or yellowish wounds. These wounds weaken the plant and can be a source of infections and viruses.

The plant's normal growth or flowering activity will be affected. If thrips attack during the vegetative stage, growth will be stunted and less vigorous. Conversely, if they attack during flowering, bud size will be reduced, causing a delay in development.

Thrips life cycle

The stages or phases of thrips are: egg (3-5 days), two larval stages (approx. 8 days), pupa (4-5 days) and adult (20-75 days).

The female thrips does not need a male to fertilize her and can lay 30 to 300 eggs during her lifetime. This is why this pest can spread very quickly.

Thrips detection

We can easily detect them by observing if the leaves have small white or yellow spots, which are their bites. We will also look at the undersides of the leaves, as that is where they usually feed, and we may also observe small black spots, which are their droppings. Unlike other insects such as the red spider or whiteflies, thrips usually bite the parts closest to the edge of the leaf.

Another way to detect them is to move the cannabis plant and you will see them jumping from branch to branch and flying.

Video Trip

How to prevent tripping in cannabis plants

How to combat a thrips infestation

During the vegetative stage, you can use biological or chemical insecticides. However, during the flowering stage, only biological insecticides should be used. It's important to detect the pest and treat it as soon as possible, since during flowering it's advisable to avoid spraying of any kind and instead use predatory species.

Among the biological products effective against thrips are pyrethrins, rotenone, potassium soap, and neem oil.

Remember to follow the manufacturer's recommendation before applying any product.

It is also recommended to use sticky insect traps.

Regarding predatory species, we can choose the following: