Pest profile

Chilli Thrips

Scirtothrips dorsalis · Thysanoptera: Thripidae[2]

Chilli thrips are under 2 mm long, but their feeding leaves distorted, bronzed leaves and scarred buds on peppers and ornamentals.[1]

Tiny pale yellow chilli thrips on a green leaf
Tiny pale yellow chilli thrips on a green leaf. Photo: 余世文, public domain (CC0), via iNaturalist

How to identify it

  • Adults are about 1.2 mm long with dark wings and dark spots forming broken stripes on the abdomen.[1]
  • Feeding turns tissue silvery, then brown or black.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Other thripsChilli thrips are small and fast, making them hard to spot without magnification.[1]

Where it lives

Probably from Southeast Asia or India, it's now widely distributed and has spread into the Western Hemisphere.[1]

US map: public records from 3 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Females insert microscopic eggs into plant tissue; stages include two larval instars, prepupa and pupa.[1]

Damage and signs

  • It causes feeding scars, leaf distortion and discolored buds, flowers and young fruit on more than 100 plant groups.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants; UF/IFAS mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Sanitation

Remove weeds that can host it, and rotate crops.[1]

Biological control

Support natural enemies, a basic practice recommended for this pest.[1]

Common questions

Why are my pepper leaves bronzed and curled?
Chilli thrips feeding can scar and distort leaves.[1]
Can I see chilli thrips?
Barely; they're under 2 mm and move fast.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Chilli Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis (EENY-463).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN833 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Scirtothrips dorsalis taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/688846 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.