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Pest of the Month - Thrips

Have you noticed brown decaying leaves on your shrubs or flowers?

This could be a result of reduced watering this summer that can attract sucking insects, such as Thrips. Thrips can be detrimental to a variety of plants, including rhododendrons, roses, privet, myoporum and many more. Thrips are a small 1//16 inch slender organism that uses it’s mouthparts to suck nutrients from the leaves.  Although they rarely kill a plant they cause unsightly damage. Management is difficult. See the Pest Notes for further information.