Pest · Reduces yield
Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) are flying insects less than 1.5mm long with slender pale yellow to light brown bodies. Thrips can live in the inner leaves and leaf folds of alliums, and may also infest bulbs.
They suck sap from plants, leaving silver patches on the leaves and reducing the productivity and yield of plants.
Wash thrips from affected plants using a garden hose, spread an organic mulch around plants, and encourage predatory mites and lacewings with companion planting.