Oh no! I thought that the cold winter might have sent the thrips back to the tropics. I am only about 20 minutes from you. If you find a wonder bug let me know.

What you think is thrip damage , more than likely is from a wasp .
If you click on this link and scroll about half way down ,
you will see the actual damage in the Winter Park Rose Garden .
This looks very different than the damage to buds caused by wasps .
Click where it says Photo Link 2 for excellent pictures .
If you DO have thrips , there is an 800 number to call listed here .

Here is a link that might be useful: Chilli Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood

Thanks for the Link to the UF Ag. Dept., yes, the pics show the thrip damage, and the worst are on my Knock-outs, mostly the pink... I called the # for Dr. Osborne, but it is 5 PM and no answer so will call again tomorrow.... I'm thinking I'll have to get out the Big Guns, and spray, the Bayer 3-in-1 worked last year, twice, a week apart.... drat ..... there goes my 'no-spray' garden ! ! amberroses, you are a dreamer ! wishful thinking got us nowhere ! I posted on the roses Forum and a lady in no. Ga. suggested using a ' hot wax pepper spray'..... I e-mailed her to ask abt. the recipe, or the source if commercial, and will post it here.... maybe it would be better ? who knows ?? procrastination is my nemesis ! ............thanks, sally

Spinosad works on chilli thrips and is not the worst thing for us humans. When I had a pink knockout the thrips seemed to like it the best. I have no idea why.

Thanks amberroses, I'll pick up some next time at HD.... I went out this morning and cut off all the buds on the pink Knock-outs, and put them in the dumpster...so that might help, ...... and the lady with the Hot Pepper Wax Spray got back to me, it is commercial, so I'll be looking for that also... but she is in Kansas, and a different market, etc. from here..... we need to be philosophical abt. all this, don't we ? I mean, next January this will all be Ancient History and we'll be moaning abt. the freeze..... so I tell myself.... ha... sally

Sally, here is another link for you, maybe for next thrips season you will be ready with an army.:)

Silvia

Here is a link that might be useful: thrips predators

Thanks Silvia, it's an interesting site, never seen it before, and I'm keeping it for future reference... have you ever used the mail-order bugs ? and how did it work out for you, did they just fly away ?... has anyone here ever used the Hot Pepper Wax Spray ? apparently it is cayenne peppers in a parrafin-wax base, and the wax holds the hot-pepper on the plant, it is supposed to be good on food-crops also, organic.... I know in my garden the bugs avoid the hot-peppers, they don't like them... also Tom pointed that out when he was here... it stands to reason the spray might work on most everything... also it won't fly away like the predator-bugs do..... sure wish I could get some feed-back on this... I went on Google and there are many mail-order places that carry it, but it is kind of pricey what with the shipping etc. Bonide lists 2 places here in St Pete that carry their products, I called them and they don't have the Hot Pepper spray, but Willow Tree said they would ask their Salesman when he comes, and call me back.... but I'd like to hear from others who have actually used the stuff.... Thanks folks, sally

Sally, I have never bought bugs for my garden, first because they are expensive, second I think they will go to my neighbors yard and third I don't like any bugs.

Another place that sells them is Arbico and they are also expensive, you can compare both websites to see what they offer.

About the hot pepper spray, I don't know how effective it is, in the beginning of any infestation maybe after a that I don't know. You can probably make your own mixture of hot peppers with some canola oil for sticking and see if it works. You can google recipes for this concoction some add garlic too.

Let us know if you find anything that works.

Silvia

Thanks Silvia... that was kind of like my own feeling abt. getting good-bugs, unless I have a lot of pest-bugs, they are going to say 'goodbye'... I called the Nursery here in St Pete that carries the Bonide Hot Pepper Wax Spray, Willow Tree, and she called me back that she had ordered some in, so I'll go out and pick it up... I'll let you-all know when I try it, and hopefully how it works ! However, I did do serious pruning and cut off the canes that looked like chili-thrips had been at them, so it may be awhile... but the Spray does say it can be used on veggies, that it is organic and safe.... so I can also try it on what few veggies I have left, and will also post the results, if there are any.... I am always suspicious of stuff anyway and don't get my hopes too high....... Thanks, sally