Chilli thrips are devouring my strawberry

Strawberry plant affected by chilli thrip
@JudyEv (371585)
Rockingham, Australia
February 12, 2026 7:30pm CST
There is a pest called a ‘chilli thrip’ (Scirtothrips dorsalis). They are too small to be seen easily but create havoc in a number of plants, especially roses, strawberries, tomatoes and citrus fruits amongst others. They thrive in warm conditions and it’s virtually impossible to eradicate them completely. They suck the sap from young leaves and buds leaving them shrivelled and distorted. I’m sure that is why my strawberry plant is looking so sick. It has a large number of fruit but they’re all dried up and the leaves are shrivelled and look burnt. The plant has sent runners out but it’s pointless leaving it in the ground as it’s not going to get better. So this will be the last strawberry plant I grow. They are tackling the tomato plant too but it doesn’t seem as badly affected. I hope they leave the pumpkins along.
9 people like this
9 responses
@AmbiePam (112503)
• United States
8h
I’m sorry! That’s disappointing!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (371585)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
The plant has such a lot of fruit on it! It is disappointing for sure. Thanks.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (24323)
• Palisade, Colorado
9h
That is so sad. I hope you can save everything else.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (371585)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
They don't seem to be into my one rose bush but it's near the tomato plant so I'm not getting my hopes up.
1 person likes this
@pahak627 (5172)
• Philippines
1h
That's so sad. Hope they will skip your pumpkins.
@LadyDuck (493145)
• Italy
1h
What a shame! Spray regularly with water the new leaves. Add mulch around the plants. I used straw around the strawberries and kept well watered.
@DaddyEvil (167751)
• United States
8h
We had some type of thrips on the last tomatoes we grew. Pretty washed the leaves and stems with dish soap and water, paying special attention to the underside of the leaves. That discourages them and kills most of them. It looks like it is too late for your strawberry plant but may not be for the tomatoes. (If you take away the strawberry and tomato plants, thrips will also attack the pumpkin leaves, stems and pumpkins. You can wash them off the pumpkin plants the same way.) I hope you can save some of your plants. Good luck!
1 person likes this
10h
Aye The strawberry plant is goosed. Burn it, lol
2 people like this
@JudyEv (371585)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Yes, it's going in the bin in a plastic bag. Nowhere to burn anything here.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (73266)
• Philippines
1h
That's terrible. I use neem oil to my plants to prevent and kill pests like that.
@Fleura (33939)
• United Kingdom
3h
I found information here. Maybe you can try some things to help your other plants.
https://pestsdiseases.com/chilli-thrips-management-symptoms-treatment-chemical-biological-and-organic-control/
@Fleura (33939)
• United Kingdom
3h
Oh the poor thing is having the life sucked out of it!