Chilli Thrip

Chilli Thrips (𝑆𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑡𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑑𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠) are a type of sap-sucking insect that can damage roses and other plants in Perth, Western Australia. And they are most active in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Are thrips manageable? Yes, they are but you need to be checking and treating every 2 weeks (for a bad infestation) to 4 weeks (for mild infestation).
Chilli Thrips can infest your roses, citrus and other plants in Perth because of the rainfall and humidity.

JGS Group / JGS Roses has a way to remove, treat and care for your roses to try and remove the Thrips when they appear. There is no quick fix because of the rainfall and humidity around Perth.

Signs that you may have Chilli Thrip include brown scarring, light brown spots, curled leaves. The flowers on your roses may have deformities, they may be damages or have discoloured patched. On the new shoots you may find there are deformities, or the new growth will be affected.

Treatment

1. The first thing we do is check to see if it is Chilli Thrip or other disease or pest.
2. We will cut away the infected leaves, mindful that we discard the cuttings in a plastic bag, the bag is sealed and put into the general rubbish not the green waste bin. This eliminates the chance of it spreading when the green waste goes to the tip.
3. We have a spray treatment that we use.
4. In cases where it is an infestation, we will come back every 2 weeks to check on the roses and continue treatment if required. If required, we recommend coming back every 4 weeks if it is a mild infestation.

We recommend trying some natural help as well such as planting some repelling plants that will attract Chilli Thrip. Some of these plants include marjoram, garlic, basil and oregano. Planting them around the more vulnerable plants will not only help your roses but the herbs are great for cooking.

Please remember is treating Chilli Thrip is not a quick fix but it is treatable and manageable.