Rose Thrips: Diagnosis and Control

Brown, ragged petal edges on opening roses signal rose thrips. These tiny, yellowish insects hide inside buds, rasping petal tissue. Confirm by slapping a bloom onto white paper—thrips will skitter across the surface.

Because they shelter deep in buds, contact sprays often miss them. Effective options:

• Systemic insecticides (absorbed by plant, ingested by feeding thrips).
• Spinosad-based sprays (translaminar action reaches hidden pests).