Are these Thrips?

lapk78 · April 16, 2012

Two of my six plants aren't doing very well at the moment. I have a thread called "Spots on my Tomato leaves?? (pics)" where you may view images of the progression of the sickness of these plants. I'm fearing Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus which I'm told is communicated by thrips.

Are these thrips? It's really just three pics of the same bug that I found on some foliage I pruned away. Thanks.

-Lyle

John3 · April 16, 2012

Lyle I did a google image search on Thrips and your pictures and the ones in the image search to compare to - it looks like they might be Western Flower Thrips. Try a google image for Westen Flower Thrips and see if you think so. I don't know for sure.

RayR · April 16, 2012

It sure does look like a Thrip. Compare your pics to some of these images

livinonfaith · April 16, 2012

Had spotted wilt on my German Johnson Pink last year. (Darn thrips!)

There was one tomato that was absolutely gorgeous, if you are a Dead Head, at least. (And if you are too young to know what a Dead Head is, google it. Think hippies, illegal pharmaceuticals and tie dye t-shirts.

) I'm actually not a Dead Head but still was rather impressed. It looked like some kind of psychedelic work of art.

I tried to find an image that showed how cool an infected tomato can look, but none of the ones on the web look quite the way mine did. These come as close as I could find, but mine was much much prettier!

http://rutherford.ces.ncsu.edu/conte...ottedWiltVirus

http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/b...omato_tswv.htm

Crandrew · April 16, 2012

^ not a cool situation but interesting effect.

lapk78 · April 16, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by livinonfaith

Had spotted wilt on my German Johnson Pink last year. (Darn thrips!)

There was one tomato that was absolutely gorgeous, if you are a Dead Head, at least. (And if you are too young to know what a Dead Head is, google it. Think hippies, illegal pharmaceuticals and tie dye t-shirts.

) I'm actually not a Dead Head but still was rather impressed. It looked like some kind of psychedelic work of art.

I tried to find an image that showed how cool an infected tomato can look, but none of the ones on the web look quite the way mine did. These come as close as I could find, but mine was much much prettier!

http://rutherford.ces.ncsu.edu/conte...ottedWiltVirus

http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/b...omato_tswv.htm

Pretty, but is it edible once infected? I may be the proud owner of a trippy, tye-dyed, German Johnson.

-Lyle

livinonfaith · April 17, 2012

The report I read said, yes, they are still edible. As I recall, though, this one didn't taste quite as good as the ones I ate before they were infected.

Of course, that could be a psychological thing. It feels weird to eat something that looks that odd.

That was the only one I ate. There was only one tomato after that and it wasn't pretty, just diseased looking, so I finally pulled the plant.

b54red · April 17, 2012

I ate tomatoes off an infected Cowlick's Brandywine two years ago and they tasted great. They didn't get as large as they should have and a few were disfigured and deformed. Usually I don't get a chance to eat tomatoes off an infected plant because they usually die too soon.

April 16, 2012	#4
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	Had spotted wilt on my German Johnson Pink last year. (Darn thrips!) There was one tomato that was absolutely gorgeous, if you are a Dead Head, at least. (And if you are too young to know what a Dead Head is, google it. Think hippies, illegal pharmaceuticals and tie dye t-shirts.) I'm actually not a Dead Head but still was rather impressed. It looked like some kind of psychedelic work of art. I tried to find an image that showed how cool an infected tomato can look, but none of the ones on the web look quite the way mine did. These come as close as I could find, but mine was much much prettier! http://rutherford.ces.ncsu.edu/conte...ottedWiltVirus http://www.science.oregonstate.edu/b...omato_tswv.htm

April 16, 2012	#2
John3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask Posts: 727	Lyle I did a google image search on Thrips and your pictures and the ones in the image search to compare to - it looks like they might be Western Flower Thrips. Try a google image for Westen Flower Thrips and see if you think so. I don't know for sure.

April 16, 2012	#3
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	It sure does look like a Thrip. Compare your pics to some of these images

April 16, 2012	#5
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	^ not a cool situation but interesting effect.

April 17, 2012	#7
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	The report I read said, yes, they are still edible. As I recall, though, this one didn't taste quite as good as the ones I ate before they were infected. Of course, that could be a psychological thing. It feels weird to eat something that looks that odd. That was the only one I ate. There was only one tomato after that and it wasn't pretty, just diseased looking, so I finally pulled the plant.

April 17, 2012	#8
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I ate tomatoes off an infected Cowlick's Brandywine two years ago and they tasted great. They didn't get as large as they should have and a few were disfigured and deformed. Usually I don't get a chance to eat tomatoes off an infected plant because they usually die too soon.