While thrips can be really tiny cannabis pests, they can still be spotted by the naked eye. Some may have wings and some may not. Thrips reproduce rapidly, especially in tight places. That is what makes them hard to get rid of when using pesticides. They suck the sap right out of your plant with their piercing mouths, which makes the leaves look like they turned white.

You can tell when you have thrips by taking a look at your leaves – they will look as if chlorophyll has been ripped right off the plant. Plants that are damaged can’t be healed thus making it harder for them to absorb light.

If left untreated, thrips will kill cannabis plants. Damage also can be seen by the greenish-black specks of poop they leave on foliage. Moreover, there will be silver patches on the plant from scar tissue.

Depending on the severity of a thrips infestation, thrips damage might initially look like spider mite damage. Some time later the damage gets worse and you can confirm that it is indeed a thrips case when the greenness of leaves is replaced with portions of white patches.

Thrips also can cause viruses to the plants and any larvae infected will breed more infected pests! Adults have wings though they do not fly well but rather jump from leaf to leaf and from plant to plant. While they suck, the plants release honeydew which can contribute to another common problem in cannabis – molds. 

There are different kinds of thrips and some are more resistant to chemicals than others. Thrips can also carry plant pathogens in their mouths and transmit these to other plants, increasing their chances of getting infected. If your cannabis plants are affected during late flowering or close to harvest, make sure you use organic pest control as it is safest for both your plants and your health.  

Thrips Elimination and Control

One good way to repel thrips for those growing their cannabis outdoors is to use garlic. Garlic repels thrips and is a good way to keep them away from your plants. The color yellow also attracts thrips so you should never have anything in this color around your growth, except probably for yellow sticky traps to catch these bugs on marijuana plants. If you already have them, neem oil and beneficial insects like ladybugs can help get rid of thrips as well.

Picture below shows thrips damage.

If you want to get rid of thrips and other common cannabis pests that have started invading your grow space, Ant & Garden Pest Control in Beaverton Oregon can help you out. Don’t delay. Contact us today!