I fought with them the last several years I lived in FL. Chilli Thrips were the biggest problem I ever came across in growing roses. They were into everything. Not just roses. I had to use an Atomic Bomb just to keep them in check. I used more insecticides the last several years I lived in FL. then any time I'd been growing roses (since the mid 1970's). When I moved to a climate that has cold winters, the Chilli Thrips stayed behind me. I don't miss them one bit !!

The atomic bomb being imidacloprid? Or Conserve high concentration spinosad?

Both, rotated every other time. It can get VERY expensive and frustrating. I'm not to wild about spraying insecticides all the time..

For how long?

And yes, I agree. I've purchased imidacloprid granules to eliminate spraying, and apply once during chilli thrip season, at least that's a bit safer. I hear marigolds attract chilli thrip predators, I'm thinking about planting some, but with my large rose garden, I'm going to need to plant a lot.

I would suggest doing several dormant oil sprays this winter so that you have a fighting chance for next year. Preparatory mites aren't going to do much if populations are already large.

If spider mites are an issue where you are, forego the marigolds. I read in Organic Gardening thirty years ago to plant marigolds to repel spider mites. Wrong! They tented the blamed marigolds and I could NOT rid the garden of them until all the marigolds went into the trash and I started washing the plants with a water wand. They're beautiful, but look for other attractants for predators if you have the right conditions for spider mites.

Poor marigolds- they seem to get touted as a cure all... I first heard of them as a deterrent against soil nematodes. The soil here is really sandy, so after the tomatoes started showing signs, I sprinkled seed around. Got a great crop of flowers at least:) Not sure if they help any against garden pests (and I haven't had any spider mite attracting issues here- tho the roses are in pots and the marigolds in the vegie beds) but they are pretty, and having them as filler does help keep down the weeds.

I have not done anything so far. Will predators balance them out eventually? Still thinking about it. I want to avoid insecticides because I have so many many many bees.

>Will predators balance them out eventually?

Eventually, but I've read that it will take quite some time.

If you absolutely must go organic and don't want to use spinosad (which is an "organic" insecticide that is very toxic to bees if sprayed irresponsibly), Texas A&M ag extension service apparently had some positive results suppressing CH with a mixture of orange oil + borax + surfactants. In what proportions they didn't say, but they used a product called "TriCon", unfortunately there is no rigorous study or data published :(

For non-chemical control, you have to figure out how to attract pirate bugs and predatory mites to your garden which does not appear to be simple. Apparently, you can buy them from certain places online, still researching that. Green lacewigs and ladybugs which I have lots of in my garden are apparently natural predators of chilli thrips (or maybe just regular thrips?). If they are, my infestation is probably too large for them (or any other predator like kitty mentioned) to be making any sort of dent in the population.

@kittymoonbeam, may I know which dormant oil sprays you are using?

@roseseek, have the chilli thrips reached you in central California coast? What would create the right conditions for spider mites? I have not noticed any spider mite infestations in my first year of gardening, and I have many different plants besides roses (mostly drought tolerant/native types). I see webs around plants every now and again, but in the middle is some predator spider.

No, thank heavens! And, I am NOT taking ANY chances bringing anything home that hasn't had the daylights sprayed out of it, either. I figure they will eventually make it here, IF the climate supports them, but it won't be due to my messing up.

Well, I think your warm coastal climate would certainly support them, it never reaches 32F or under there, does it?

Another plant that chilli thrips like, probably more so than roses, is the indian hawthorn shrub. They were already damaging my adorable hedge by late spring and I had no idea what was going on. I have no idea how I would manage the thrips there because I'm afraid birds would be poisoned from the imidacloprid in the berries it makes after flowering. Something to consider if you plan on adding such a shrub near your rose garden.

We supposedly get the occasional freeze, but there were only "frosts" this past winter, which didn't even slow down the hibiscus sinensis from flowering. It appears they like heat, something we usually don't have in abundance. Historically, there have been periods of triple digits here during summer, which, being coastal, doesn't usually hit until this and next month. So far this year, we haven't exceeded 85 yet and that was only for one or two days. Most of the temps have been mid seventies and below. Many evenings are "wet" with coastal fogs and heavy dews, keeping nights actually rather chilly. I have grown roses in the inland high heat at home for over thirty-five years and I am used to them really pushing with the heat. Here, they honestly don't "push". The "heat" just isn't here. Something for which I am grateful!

Wow, what lovely weather. Hopefully it lasts.

Amen! Thank you. Climate was one of the prime concerns and criteria for the move to this city. As long as the Pacific remains cool, we should remain "cooler"!

Finally eliminated or at least thoroughly suppressed the chilli thrips after adding granular imidacloprid over two weeks ago. Added a little nitrogen to aid in the uptake of the systemic. All my roses are exploding with fresh flawless red leaves and budeyes everywhere. My climbing rose made a very quick comeback and is starting to bloom, with a dozen buds already waiting for me. I'm so happy! Hopefully won't have to reapply, but I will be on the lookout.

I am wondering if Beneficial Nematodes would do the job.....

Update: the chilli thrips seem to have developed a resistance to the imidacloprid, this is seriously sad

Looks like my only option is get that 150 dollar bottle of Conserve (11.6% spinosad).

Chilli thrips have me down for the second year in a row. I wonder if spraying the leaves with an antitranspirant would work? I think I read that on this forum somewhere, so I'm giving it a try. I also tried the low percentage of Spinosad at dusk when bees aren't active. Would sulfur do anything? I'm not willing to use insecticides, because I grow veggies and herbs with my roses.

>tried the low percentage of Spinosad

Jasmine, I tried that too to no avail. Didn't even make a dent in the population. I'm guessing the same happened to you?. I live in the SFV area and for me they arrived last summer. Basically it seems the only confirmed way to knock out a big chilli thrip infestation is with high concentration spinosad (Dow Conserve).

Kitty Belendez of the Santa Clarita Rose Society documents her battle with chilli thrips here: http://scvrs.homestead.com/ChilliThrips.html

jasminerose4u, do you at least get winter/spring/early summer blooms now that you've had chilli thrips for the second year in a row?

Chill thrips have completely ruined all late summer/fall blooms here

Hi Lauren: I haven't had nice blooms since last spring. The summer was the hottest ever. I was looking forward to the fall flush, but the chilli thrips returned. Kitty is our rose society president and has beautiful roses. But some things she uses aren't safe to use around vegetables. I would rather give up roses altogether than to use insecticides harmful to the environment. But I am sorry that I won't be able to participate in the Santa Clarita Rose show this year. Perhaps I will order pirate bugs for next year. I'm convinced that the chili thrips left with winter that got down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit and thats why I had a nice spring. But the chili thrips returned with the late September, early October winds. Somehow, I want to figure this out.

For the west coast, Natures Control predator bugs might work. Not sure about shipping to the east coast. I bought the predator nematodes for grubs and they did kill some grubs... but I think I just had way too big of an infestation of grubs for them to get to all of them. I ended up using Bayer after waiting 3 weeks then seeing the grubs that were left migrating towards my azaleas. Even so, they did kill some and I would try them again at the first sign of an infestation. I have a feeling they work better in more humidity though. The dry heat here didn't help.

Natures Control sells predator nematodes and other predators that are supposed to work on thrips. Here's the link...

http://www.naturescontrol.com/thrip.html#tpm