Thrips – Sticky Trap Guide

Thrips are slender, fast-moving insects that scrape and suck plant cells, leaving behind silvering, scarring, and distorted leaves. They’re incredibly small — often missed until damage appears — and can be devastating in greenhouses, houseplants, and horticultural crops. Some thrips also transmit plant viruses, making early detection and control essential.

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How to Identify Thrips Problems

Silvery streaks or blotches on leaves or flower petals

Black specks (thrips excrement) on damaged areas

Distorted or curled new growth

Deformed flowers or buds

Adult thrips are tiny, slender insects — often brown, black, or yellow, with fringed wings

Use a hand lens or sticky trap to spot them early

Thrips thrive in warm, dry environments with minimal air circulation — making greenhouses and grow tents prime real estate for infestation.

How Sticky Traps Help with Thrips

Thrips are drawn to both blue and yellow sticky traps, depending on species and setup. These traps help by capturing flying adult thrips, interrupting their life cycle and serving as a vital monitoring tool.

Benefits:
Detect early-stage infestations

Reduce adult populations

Support decision-making for biological or spray treatments

Place traps vertically near plant canopy height — especially in high-risk areas like propagation benches, young plants, and flowering crops.

Combine with natural predators like Orius laevigatus or Amblyseius cucumeris for a powerful integrated control strategy.

Thrips Control: Best Practices

Use blue or yellow sticky traps to monitor and catch adult thrips

Introduce biological controls early — predatory bugs or mites

Improve air circulation and reduce dust buildup

Avoid over-fertilising — tender growth is more vulnerable

Prune and remove heavily infested plant parts

Sticky traps are most effective for monitoring and suppressing adult thrips, but should always be used alongside biological or cultural methods for long-term control.

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FAQ - Thrips

What attracts thrips to sticky traps?

Thrips are attracted to blue and yellow colours, depending on the species. Blue traps are often more effective for thrips monitoring, while yellow covers a broader pest range.

Are sticky traps enough to control thrips?

No — sticky traps help catch adults and reduce spread, but larvae remain on the plant. Combine traps with biological controls or targeted sprays for effective results.

What kind of damage do thrips cause?

Thrips leave silvery scars, distort new growth, and damage flowers. Some species also transmit viruses, making early action crucial.

Where should I place sticky traps for thrips?

Hang traps vertically at canopy height, especially near young plants, flowers, and greenhouse vents. Use blue for targeted thrips control or yellow for mixed pest pressure.

Are sticky traps safe indoors?

Yes. StickyTraps.co.uk products are non-toxic, pet-safe, and odourless — ideal for use in homes, grow tents, or greenhouses.

An Ode to Thrips

O stealthy pest with rasping bite,
You scar the leaves and flee the light.
You mark your path with silver trails,
In buds and blooms, your tale prevails.

A whisper-winged, elusive fiend,
You hollow cells where veins had gleaned.
Yet in your flight, your fate is sealed,
A blue trap waits — your fate revealed.

So dance your dance of piercing strife,
But traps will end your chewing life.
No bloom you’ll twist, no leaf you'll mar —
You're going nowhere. Stuck. By far.