Have You Noticed Thrips On Snake Plant? 

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Last Updated on September 14, 2022 by Griselda M.

Finding thrips on snake plants is a common issue. Thrips are an infestation on snake plants that affects the leaves, making them curl up.

Thrips are common pests that affect many plants, including snake plants. They feed on the foliage and cause leaves to curl up. Thrips are generally harmful and destructive to whatever plant they infest.

Thrips have been reported on all plant parts; including flowers, roots, stems, and leaves. Thrips have long been recognized as a major pest on a wide range of vegetables, fruit, ornamental plants, and trees. They can also be found on several weeds and woody ornamentals.

Infestation of Thrips on Snake Plant

Thrips on snake plants are common in the UK and US as well. Several different species of thrips will attack the leaves and flowers of this plant. The damage can be significant and will result in the loss of valuable produce.

The adult thrips can be seen flying around in the summer months, and you may notice them on your plants during this time. They can also be seen feeding on the underside of the leaves and flowers.

Once they have found a suitable host, they will feed and lay eggs for two to four weeks. After this, they will drop off the plant and lay their eggs on other nearby plants. They can live for up to two months in favorable conditions.

Hosts Plants For Thrips on Snake Plant

The most common host plants for thrips are those in the family Solanaceae. These include tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, eggplants, potatoes, and nightshades. Thrips can also be found in other families including Cucurbitaceae, Compositae, Lamiaceae, and Verbenaceae.

Thrips transmit diseases such as bacterial soft rot, blight, late blight, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. They are also carriers of several viruses, such as tomato spotted wilt virus, tobacco virus, potato virus Y, and tobacco rattle virus. The main way that thrips cause damage to crops is by feeding on the leaves. The feeding damages the plant by causing the leaves to wilt.

Thrips are a common pest of many vegetable crops, including eggplant, potato, pepper, and tomato. They have been shown to cause more damage to plants than other insects. Thrips can feed on almost any part of a plant, but they prefer young leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit.

Thrips are small, soft-bodied, and greenish insects with long legs and antennae. They are covered with a hard, waxy coating that protects them from water loss.

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What Do Thrips Look Like?

• Thrips have six legs, three pairs of wings, and two body segments.
• The first segment is the head, which contains the mouthparts.
• The second segment is the thorax, which houses the abdominal ganglia and the heart.
• The third segment is the abdomen, which contains the reproductive organs.
• The fourth and fifth segments contain the wings.
• The sixth and last segment is the tail.
• The adult thrips are about 1 to 2 millimeters long, and the eggs are about 0.2 millimeters in diameter.
• Thrips are omnivorous and feed on many different types of plants and animals.
• They feed on the nectar of flowers, pollen, and plant sap.
• They also feed on decaying organic matter and dead insects.
• When they feed on plant sap, the thrips inject enzymes into the plant cells which break down the cell walls and allow the sugars to be absorbed by the plant.

Read more about Do Mint Plants Attract Snakes?

Thrips on Snake Plant Damage

To know that your snake plants are under a thrip attack, check the leaves. If you see that the leaves are getting brown patches – then they are under a thrip attack. The brown patches are due to the feeding activity of the thrips and it can be controlled by removing them as soon as you spot them. The best way to remove the thrips is to cut the leaf with a sharp pair of scissors.

Removing the Thrips From the Leaves

It is very easy to remove the thrips from the leaves. You just have to make a small cut in the center of the leaf and then lift out the thrips from the leaf. The thrips will fall off the leaf.

You should keep this process ongoing for some time. Once you start doing so, the number of thrips on snake plant will reduce significantly. Insecticides are also a great way to rid your plants of any insects, including thrips. 

Final Remarks

It is common to notice thrips on snake plant. However, this article teaches you how to eliminate them and take care of your plant until you are thrip free. Once you manage to eliminate these destructive pests, you will enjoy growing these plants.

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