What is a common sign of thrips infestation?

• A. Streaking and distortion of leaves
• B. On the underside of leaves
• C. Pear-shaped body
• D. White waxy coating and filaments

Answer: (A)

Thrips feed by scraping the leaf surface, which damages the epidermal cells and creates visible damage patterns. The most recognizable sign is streaking and distortion of leaves, especially on new growth, where you’ll see light, silvery streaks and curling as tissues are scarred by feeding. This kind of leaf distortion reflects the plant tissue being damaged rather than just the presence of insects.

Seeing insects or feeling the underside of leaves can occur, but those are not signs themselves—one is a location, the other a pest characteristic. A pear-shaped body describes what the insect looks like, not the damage it causes. A white waxy coating and filaments point to pests like mealybugs or scale, not thrips. So the telltale symptom you’d look for with thrips is the streaking and distortion on the leaves.