Thrips are a common household and garden nuisance, even for those with legendary green thumbs. While it's clear that an infestation can destroy many types of plants, one of the most common questions we get is if thrips are dangerous to humans or pets.
Thrips — a name that emerged from the ancient Greek word for woodworm — are not a single insect species, but an entire and diverse group of species. Of the more than 7,000 different kinds of thrips that have been identified so far, only a small portion would be considered pests. Many of the remaining species feed on insect debris, fungi, or decaying leaves, something that poses no threat to agriculture. Some, like those that eat aphids, are even actively helpful.
Those thrips that are pests, however, pose a threat to a wide range of plants and flowers in two distinct ways. One of them is direct. As thrips feed on countless different plants, flowers, shrubs, and even trees, they leave noticeable damage behind. In addition, thrips can carry a variety of plant viruses, damaging the vegetation they feed on indirectly. The Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus is merely one example of the viruses thrips can transmit to plants. When a plant has been exposed to thrips, leaves may develop lighter or darker spots, shrivel up and become rounded or take on a bud-like appearance, and the plant may even become so weak that it dies.
Because there are so many different kinds of thrips, these insects can be hard to identify. In general, they are slender, their long bodies are shaped like a projectile, and they range in size from about half a millimeter to five millimeters. Some thrips have wings, while others do not. Those that do generally do not fly very well.
Nobody would welcome these pests in their garden, and there is no question that certain thrips are rather dangerous for your plants. Do thrips also pose a threat to human health, though? What should you do if you find thrips among your plants?
Yes. Some of the many thrips species can and do, occasionally, bite people. Unlike dangerous pests such as mosquitoes or ticks, thrips do not, in fact, feed on human blood, nor do the many plant viruses thrips can carry pose a risk to humans.
One distinguishing feature of thrips is the fact that they are able to find sustenance in numerous different types of plants, rather than primarily depending on only one food source. When thrips bite humans with their characteristic asymmetrical mandibles, they are simply in search of food. Once they discover that you aren’t it, they will quickly move onto greener pastures.
Those who are bitten by thrips are unlikely to see the bite in action — rather, they’ll feel a painful sensation (thrips have sharp mouthpieces that can break skin), inspect the site, and fail to spot the bug that has already cleared out.
The bite may, however, leave a small red lesion that can even become a little inflamed and lead to a localized skin rash. Those who are allergic can expect a stronger reaction. In these cases, seeking medical attention is always advised; you likely won’t know what type of bug bite you, after all.
If you are trying to prevent thrips bites, wearing an insect repellent that contains DEET will do the job — and it will also protect you against more dangerous bug bites.
Thrips can be hard to identify due to the fact that many are so tiny. Gently tapping the leaves of your plants while you hold a white piece of paper underneath can cause thrips to drop down, allowing you to get a closer look. At that point, you may be able to tell that you are dealing with thrips — but identifying the exact species is a challenge of its own. For this, you are best off reaching out to professionals.
Steps you can take to control thrips include:
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