Q. Some kind of thrip-like
bug has invaded my garden. My grapes leaves are brown and drying up from these
bugs. There’s tiny black spots where they were. There’s so many of them I can
hear them as I approach the plant. I applied Spinosad in September but it
didn’t do anything. Now they’ve gotten into my peach tree.
bug has invaded my garden. My grapes leaves are brown and drying up from these
bugs. There’s tiny black spots where they were. There’s so many of them I can
hear them as I approach the plant. I applied Spinosad in September but it
didn’t do anything. Now they’ve gotten into my peach tree.
A. The tiny black spots on
grape leaves is fecal matter (poop) from leafhoppers, not thrips. Thrips are very
common on grapes here that feed on plant juices from the leaves of grapes and
other plants.
grape leaves is fecal matter (poop) from leafhoppers, not thrips. Thrips are very
common on grapes here that feed on plant juices from the leaves of grapes and
other plants.
Leafhoppers start building their colonies in grapes
around April. Once established, they will build huge colonies in the grapes and
spread to other plants.
around April. Once established, they will build huge colonies in the grapes and
spread to other plants.
 |
| grape leafhopper damage |
They are easy to get under control in April and May when
they are young. They are extremely difficult to control without some heavy duty
insecticides later in the season.
they are young. They are extremely difficult to control without some heavy duty
insecticides later in the season.
Spinosad, a natural insecticide spray, works great if
applied early in the season such as April and May. Later in the season you will
need to bring out some heavy duty artillery to get them under control.
applied early in the season such as April and May. Later in the season you will
need to bring out some heavy duty artillery to get them under control.
 |
| Leafhoppers greatly magnified. They are maybe 1/8 inch long |
I hate to recommend anything this late in the year
because the insecticides needed are very heavy-duty. It is best if you can wait
until next spring and begin treatment early with Spinosad or pyrethrin sprays.
because the insecticides needed are very heavy-duty. It is best if you can wait
until next spring and begin treatment early with Spinosad or pyrethrin sprays.
 |
| Spinosad active ingredient |
Alternate Spinosad with insecticidal soap and neem oil.
Make sure to spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves. If using Spinosad, two
sprays about six weeks apart starting in late April will take care of them, the
hornworms and the skeletonizers all at the same time.
Make sure to spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves. If using Spinosad, two
sprays about six weeks apart starting in late April will take care of them, the
hornworms and the skeletonizers all at the same time.
thank you for sharing such a nice post now i came to know why it is very important to save your plants from thrips here you can find some additional information which you may seem useful too. thanks
thank you for sharing such a nice post now i came to know why it is very important to save your plants from thrips here you can find some additional information which you may seem useful too. thanks
thank you for sharing such a nice post now i came to know why it is very important to save your plants from thrips here you can find some additional information which you may seem useful too. thanks