Thrips?

Fert1 · September 12, 2006

I wasn't sure if I should post this in the Herb section or here, and finally decided here. I have some kind of insects on my basil plant. I think they might be thrips but I'm not sure. They look a little like aphids, but are white. They are about the same size as a good sized aphid. Whatever they are, they seem to attach themselves to the leaves and suck out the juice. They are attached very firmly. You can't just wipe them off.

The last batch of basil I harvested, I couldn't figure out how to get the darn things off, so what I finally wound up doing was soaking the basil in water. After a bit, they drowned and floated to the top. That seemed to do the trick, but I was very paranoid that one would wind up in my stew. I'm pretty sure they didn't really though, as I was very careful to examine everything before putting it into the stew. Still, made me paranoid though.

From online pictures, I think they might be thrips. I understand there are white aphids, but they are fuzzy. These are definitely not fuzzy. Any ideas on what this might be? I don't have a digital camera, or I would post a picture.

Polar_Lace · September 13, 2006

Look here to see: aphids

Thrips

whitefly

Fert1 · September 13, 2006

Either the aphids or thrips. Without having the insects right in front of me as I look at the photos, it's hard to say for sure. My guess would be immature thrips. Do they like basil? They're a little big for whiteflies, and don't really look much like the whiteflies. My tomato plants have those, unfortunately.

September 12, 2006	#1
Fert1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7 Posts: 543	Thrips? I wasn't sure if I should post this in the Herb section or here, and finally decided here. I have some kind of insects on my basil plant. I think they might be thrips but I'm not sure. They look a little like aphids, but are white. They are about the same size as a good sized aphid. Whatever they are, they seem to attach themselves to the leaves and suck out the juice. They are attached very firmly. You can't just wipe them off. The last batch of basil I harvested, I couldn't figure out how to get the darn things off, so what I finally wound up doing was soaking the basil in water. After a bit, they drowned and floated to the top. That seemed to do the trick, but I was very paranoid that one would wind up in my stew. I'm pretty sure they didn't really though, as I was very careful to examine everything before putting it into the stew. Still, made me paranoid though. From online pictures, I think they might be thrips. I understand there are white aphids, but they are fuzzy. These are definitely not fuzzy. Any ideas on what this might be? I don't have a digital camera, or I would post a picture. __________________ Holly

September 13, 2006	#2
Polar_Lace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Z8b, Texas Posts: 657	Look here to see: aphids Thrips whitefly __________________ It's not how many seeds you sow. Nor how many plants you transplant. It's about how many of them can survive your treatment of them.

September 13, 2006	#3
Fert1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Upstate SC, Zone 7 Posts: 543	Either the aphids or thrips. Without having the insects right in front of me as I look at the photos, it's hard to say for sure. My guess would be immature thrips. Do they like basil? They're a little big for whiteflies, and don't really look much like the whiteflies. My tomato plants have those, unfortunately. __________________ Holly