Metallic spots on plants....??

[jbaxter777]

I have been noticing the tops of leaves to have metallic like areas where it looks like something has been feasting on the top of the leaves?? The bottoms seem to be untouched?? Also have noticed small white bug occasionally crawing around on the leaves..Any suggestions as to what is going on??

 

[bighogg]

they are thrips. those little bastards.

suggestion: kill them.

 

[Rosy Cheeks]

Yes, sounds like thrips. small white insects that scurry over the leaves?

Use spinosad and/or pyrethrines to wipe them out.

 

[DoobieDuck]

jbaxter thrips will fly about like a knat but they fly irradically...I used sticky fly strips and they worked well..good luck friend..DD

 

[jbaxter777]

thank you all for your quick response and help... I am going to destroy those little devils!!!!!!

 

[Climbinghigh]

Silvery markings dotted with black bug shit on the tops of leaves is definitely thrips. if you look closely you'll see tiny yellowish squirmy things that like to jump and hide down in the folds of new leaves. I won a grueling battle with them a couple grows ago. They seemed unstoppable until I sprayed Spinosad on them once, then about once a week after that for at least a month- and then at least monthly as a preventative. That stuff really works, just make sure you spray the plants thoroughly and if you're growing in soil give the tops of the pots a couple blasts because baby thrips live in the soil, and I've seen them jumping around on the soil surface after watering. Give your plants a little water, wait for the larval thrips to come out and blast em!
Blue sticky traps work well for catching adults, and nematodes and predatory mites are great troops to have on your side because they eat all stages of thrips.
Good Luck!

 

[jbaxter777]

my only concern is that i have never seen them fly or move quickly. I have only found theses guys four times, but im pretty sure that they are thirps. I am going to apply Spinosad. Should i buy a certain type of sprayer to use, ive heard that the ones that spray a fine mist are the best....

 

[Climbinghigh]

Sorry it took me like a week to get back to ya. I'm not around often.

I just use a regular big sturdy spray bottle, you don't need real high pressure just an even coverage of a fine mist.

And I forgot to mention before that i had tried Bug-Buster O at first, which dropped the thrips' numbers down, but they continued to resurface, Spinosad was the knock-out punch. I think that alternating sprays of these two products is the best bet for total control.