Why is control of thrips difficult?

Why is control of thrips difficult?

• A. Constant migration from weeds and grasses.
• B. They are immune to all insecticides.
• C. They only attack during the night.
• D. They require extremely high temperatures to develop.

Answer: (A)

Thrips control is difficult because these insects are highly mobile and readily move from nearby weeds and grasses into ornamental and turf plantings. That constant reinfestation means even after you reduce numbers on a treated plant, thrips from surrounding vegetation quickly repopulate the area. Their small size lets them hide in buds, leaf undersides, and other protected sites, so they’re hard to see and hard to reach with surface sprays. They also reproduce rapidly and can feed on a wide range of hosts, keeping a persistent source of thrips around the landscape. While other factors can influence control (such as resistance developing to some products or activity patterns), the ongoing immigration from weed and grass reservoirs is the main reason thrips control is so challenging.

Thrips control is difficult because these insects are highly mobile and readily move from nearby weeds and grasses into ornamental and turf plantings. That constant reinfestation means even after you reduce numbers on a treated plant, thrips from surrounding vegetation quickly repopulate the area. Their small size lets them hide in buds, leaf undersides, and other protected sites, so they’re hard to see and hard to reach with surface sprays. They also reproduce rapidly and can feed on a wide range of hosts, keeping a persistent source of thrips around the landscape. While other factors can influence control (such as resistance developing to some products or activity patterns), the ongoing immigration from weed and grass reservoirs is the main reason thrips control is so challenging.