Are you familiar with Aphids and Thrips? Why do they overwhelm houseplants and what can you do to deter them?
In this Aphids vs Thrips guide, we’ll dive into the differences, and how these common plant pets can be controlled.
First, there are many species of aphids, each with different needs when it comes to being treated and maintained for their growth and harvest time.
If you do not have an established plant for these ants, then you will need to be very careful in the way that you treat them.
Both Aphids and Thrips can take over your garden and cause a great deal of damage if not dealt with quickly and effectively.
What’s the difference between Aphids and Thrips?
The main difference between these two species is that Thrips like to feed on young leaves and become massive in numbers, while Aphids are herbivores that suck plant juices out of stems, roots, and leaves of plants. As they feed, they also spread on new shoots, and can actually destroy young plants before they even have a chance to take root. They love dark, damp areas, so areas around the base of trees and in the ground are some of the most common places in a garden that an aphid can take root. Aphids can attack a variety of plants including tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and even roses!
However, there are certain plants that are more vulnerable than others. Garlic and onions are two plants that need to be closely watched as they are both susceptible to this type of attack.
Where do Aphids and Thrips Thrive?
Both thrips and aphids love a wet, warm climate, which is exactly why you will find them growing so aggressively in warm areas. To keep your plant’s safe, you should make sure that you water them as often as possible during the day and refrain from watering them at night.
In the evening, make sure that you do not under-water your plants because they will become even more stressed due to the lack of water. This will result in them succumbing to any diseases that could occur.
One good method of dealing with a plant’s moisture requirements is by using a plant mister. It will keep the soil damp enough to prevent it from drying out too much.
How to Deal with Aphids and Thrips (Consider the Root System)
When dealing with thrips and aphids, you need to think about the root systems. If you plant a plant next to an existing plant that is susceptible to aphid attacks, the aphids will be able to penetrate the lower level of the root system and feed on the roots.
However, if you plant an aphid-resistantresistant plant next to a susceptible one, the aphids will be unable to penetrate the lower level of the root system. As a result, the aphid will not feed on your plant.
If you must use this method, you should move your susceptible plant away from the aphid-resistant one to reduce the number of aphids that will be able to feed on your plant.
Use Mechanical Sprays to Deter Aphids
There are several different ways to attack aphids and feed on your plants. One way is by using mechanical sprays such as liquid nitrate and liquid nitrogen.
These sprays are effective for dealing with small infestations, but will have a very negative impact on your plants if used excessively.
Other types of insecticides are available, but they will also negatively affect your plants if not used properly.
More so, there are natural methods that can be used to control both thrips and aphids, including natural predators, soil preparation, planting food plots, and barriers to prevent penetration.
Although some plants are more vulnerable to aphid attack than others, there are some plants that are virtually immune to the attack.
Some of these plants include milkweed, meadow rue, sweet peas, Canada Lily, cardinal flower, and links multiflorum. If you are having trouble with aphids or if you see them on your plants, you should contact a local extension office immediately to find out more about your pest problem.
In some cases, it might even be possible to apply an organic method of pest control!
There are many organic methods to choose from, so talk to your local extension office and consider all of your options before choosing which method to use.
Are Thrips and Aphids the same?
Are thrips and aphids the same? No, they’re not the same. One is an actual insect, while the other is a plant with plant parts as its reproductive organ. Both insects secrete honeydew and excrete honeydew. The aphids feed on the plant parts while the thrips feed on the sap of the plants.
Both pests are vital to the life cycle of the plants and animals we know and love. The difference is in what they do to the plants they feed.
Aphids eat plant tissue while this only feed on the sap contained within the cells. The aphid is the main predator of the caterpillar while the thrower is the main predator of the plant.
How to get rid of thrips in plants
Learning how to get rid of thrips in plants can be done with an understanding of the life cycle of the plant. It is a very common pest, which can occur in many types of plants. They tend to feed on the roots, especially of young plants or those that are newly planted.
They have long thin bodies and are often seen as white or yellowish.
You will want to start learning how to get rid of thrips in plants by not keeping them. They need water, light and nutrients in order to grow well.
If you do allow one to take over your plants they will destroy most of the foliage. They like warm, damp areas, so if you have plants that are in containers, such as hanging baskets, they will often wind up in these spaces.
The first thing that you need to do is take the plants out of the pots. Any that have grown for more than about a year should be removed. Remove all the leaves on the plant as well, if there are any. This is the most water supply available for them. You can use a spray bottle with the water, or a sponge with some water on it. You will also need to drain any standing water that is on the plant.
While you are removing all the leaves, you might as well get rid of any spores that are on the leaves. These spores will be airborne and will need to be gotten rid of before you put them back into the plants.
If the leaves appear to be moldy or have an unpleasant odor, you will not want to add more leaves to them. Simply take them out and discard them.
You will need to do some digging if you are trying to figure out how to get rid of thrips in plants. You need to make sure that no roots are left exposed, because this makes them much harder to remove.
Once the roots are exposed, they will continue to thrive, and they will continue to send out their roots to new plants. Be careful when digging, because you don’t want to kill the plant.
Once the roots are removed, be sure that the remaining part of the plant, including the flowers, are completely dry. Too much moisture will cause the plant to develop mold and the like.
Once the plants are completely dry, you can put them in the sunlight, and if you follow some of the steps mentioned in this article, you should be able to get rid of the problem. Just remember, though, that if you aren’t experienced with how to get rid of thrips in plants, it may take a little bit of patience.
How to get rid of aphids in plants
How to get rid of aphids in plants can be a little trickier than getting rid of other insects. Because they live on the underside of plants, they are often invisible to the naked eye and you may not even know they are there.
They don’t feed on the plant but live below the food source so it is more likely that you will see them there. Aphids also reproduce quickly and their young are very tough to kill.
1). Identify the plant problems
The first step in how to get rid of aphids in plants is to identify your problem plants and take the necessary steps to destroy them. Don’t try to treat an infestation in one area of your garden if you have many. They often spread rapidly from plant to plant.
If you have trouble identifying exactly which plants you have an infestation with, you might want to get an expert to do it for you.
Some of the most common plants that people get hit with aphid infestations are tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, cucumbers, and spinach. You will most likely see the tiny insects hanging around stems, leaves and fruit.
The females (baby Aphids) will attach themselves to the stem and lay their eggs on the leaf or fruit where they are born. This usually starts a new cycle.
If you have a tomato plant, you should cut off any growing stem ends, remove the plant from the ground, and seal it well to prevent the growth of more.
2). Use Insecticidal Soap to Eliminate Aphids
To get rid of aphids in your tomato plants, you can use either diatomaceous earth or insecticidal soap. Diatomaceous earth is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to get rid of aphids. It is made from fossilized algae.
Simply apply a thin layer of diatomaceous earth over the surface of the plant and let it dry for a few hours. You may need to repeat this treatment several times before you get rid of them completely.
Insecticidal soaps are more effective than diatomaceous earth. These soaps are designed to destroy adult insects, and they do not affect the developing larvae or eggs of the plants.
This makes them ideal for getting rid of aphids in plants that are young or that are growing quickly.
While it can be very costly to purchase commercial products for getting rid of aphids, you can also try making some of these home remedies.
Most of them require very little effort on your part. In some cases, you can even grow them at home. Just try it; it may surprise you at how effective these natural methods are in getting rid of pesky insects.
Conclusion
Both Aphids and Thrips are common plant pets and insects that disrupt the garden. They can be seen eating up plant leaves, roots, and stems — and they can thrive in dark and wet places.
They’re also of economic importance to plants at the early stages, as they facilitate pruning. However, they need to be controlled, otherwise, they’ll damage the plants and even the surrounding soil.