Tobacco trips can have a major impact on crop yields and quality. Tobacco thrips cause damage to several crops. They are best known for tobacco, but they can also cause serious food damage on tomatoes, cotton and peanuts by sucking on leaf and flower parts, and also transmit viruses that further reduce growth and yield. These small insects are difficult to control, spread quickly and can cause damage to leaves and flowers. It is therefore crucial for growers to take effective prevention and control measures. This article provides practical information about how to recognize tobacco thrips, what risks they pose, and what solutions are available, including the various insect screen options.
Tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca and related species) are small, flying insects that feed on the sap of leaves and flowers. The consequences of an infection can range from light leaf discoloration to severe growth stagnation. Tobacco thrips can also transmit diseases that affect the quality of the crop.
Although combating tobacco thrips is in some cases possible with plant protection products, laws and regulations are increasingly restricting their use. This makes preventive measures and the creation of physical barriers in cultivation more important than ever.
Detecting tobacco thrips early is essential to prevent major damage. To do this, use:
Thanks to this monitoring, you can intervene quickly and take targeted measures before the population becomes too large.
One of the most effective physical barriers against tobacco thrips is insect netting. The use of netting prevents the small insects from reaching the crop, significantly reducing the risk of contamination. Important points when choosing insect screens are:
In combination with monitoring and good cultivation practices, insect screens can reduce dependence on chemical plant protection products and promote healthy cultivation. Make sure that the chosen insect screen has a mesh size that is also impenetrable to tobacco trips. Suitable insect screens: Ornata Rossa and Ornata Air Plus 1517.
In addition to insect netting and monitoring, an integrated approach is recommended:
By combining these measures, you significantly reduce the risk of tobacco trips and ensure a stable and high-quality harvest.
Keeping tobacco thrips out effectively starts with prevention, but also requires a conscious strategy in daily cultivation practice. By using insect screens smartly, monitoring regularly and following an integrated approach, the population remains low and the quality of the crop remains protected. Important pillars are:
With this approach, you not only limit the damage caused by tobacco thrips, but you also work sustainably and in line with the stricter regulations concerning chemical plant protection products. This ensures a healthy, high-quality harvest and gives you, as a grower, a grip on a common problem.
