I understood that they were confirmed late last summer in OC! I just bought Montery Spinosad to spray on but there is nothing in the booklet that says it is specific for Chili Thrip. Just a few of my 50 rose bushes are beginning to show the deformed/burnt new foliage as well as dwarfed growth. I want to try to stop it before it gets as bad as last summer. I asked at Rodgers Gardens yesterday and they told me there was nothing you can do except cut the roses back. I did that the end of summer last year but I don't think we had a cold enough winter to kill the Thrip! Thanks for you suggestions, though!
First call your county ag agent. Chili thrips have not been officially confirmed in Southern California as of yet. If you have them it should be verified. As for treatment, they are resistant to most conventional pesticides. Some biological agents are useful. Beauvaria, fungi and a product called Ancora are effective. However Ancora is very expensive and may require a pesticide license to apply. Predators like Orius, swirskii mites and some nematodes ate also effective. Good luck. no matter what thrips you have they are difficult to control and take consistent practice and applications. There is no one shot cure.
I don't know. Call them or the Orange County Vector Control.
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