Thrips

Thrips are small insects that belong to the order Thysanoptera, which means "fringed wings". They have slender bodies, usually less than 1 mm long, and asymmetrical mouthparts that they use to pierce and suck plant sap. Thrips can cause damage to many ornamental and food plants by creating streaks, silvery speckling, and small white patches on the leaves and flowers. Some thrips can also transmit viruses to plants, such as the tomato spotted wilt virus. Thrips can be identified by shaking the plant over a white paper and looking for tiny dark slivers, or by using a magnifying glass or a blue sticky trap.