Western Flower Thrips on Solanaceous Crops
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Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis). Thrips of all types can feed on tomatoes. When they pierce the tomato, they leave behind small holes, leaving the fruit unmarketable. Thrips are extremely small (<1⁄16 inch) and often hard to detect. Thrips thrive in hot weather and can transmit tomato spotted wilt virus.
Western flower thrip (high magnification).
(Photo: Frank Peairs, CSU, Bugwood.org)
Thrip damage on tomato.
(Photo: M.E. Bartolo, Bugwood.org)
