THRIPS: several species, including Frankliniella, Fusca and Microcephalica spp., Thripidae

ADULT: They are narrow, pale yellow to brown to black, and approximately 1/16 in. long with fine fringed wings held over their bodies at rest.

EGG: The narrow whitish eggs are inserted into plant tissue. Larvae emerge in 3 d.

LARVA: On corn, the larvae feed on leaves, often in whorls, and on husks, pollen and silks. They develop for two instars before entering the quiescent third instar.

PUPA: The third instar travels to the soil, plant litter or other secluded location on the plant before molting into the pupal stage.

GENERATION TIME: 14 to 20 d.

DAMAGE: Larvae and adults cause stippling damage to leaves and feed on pollen grains and silks. There is some evidence that thrips feeding may increase fungal and bacterial disease incidence.  Early damage to silks can result in reduced pollination and incompletely filled ears.

CONTROL: Adult thrips often move into fields from neighboring fields, road sides or canal banks by the many thousands within hours when their previous host plants senesce or are disked or mowed.  They are attracted to the colors white, yellow and blue and can often be seen by the thousands on vehicles in the affected area.  Pesticides are available for foliar applications.  Formulations, rates, and pre-harvest intervals of insecticides labeled for thrips control in Florida are listed below for sweet corn (Table 1) and field corn (Table 2).