What symptom may indicate damage from thrips on flowers?

The symptom that indicates thrips damage on flowers is the presence of blotched or speckled discolored areas on the petals. This characteristic damage results from the feeding habits of thrips, which are small sucking insects. When thrips feed on the tissue of flowers, they remove plant juices and cause localized damage, giving rise to these distinctive marks.

These blotches or speckling are typically a result of the thrips piercing the plant cells with their mouthparts, leading to a discoloration of the affected areas. This can affect the aesthetic quality of the flower and may also indicate a more widespread infestation if multiple petals display similar symptoms. Recognizing this sign is crucial for timely identification and management of thrips to prevent further damage to ornamental plants.

Other symptoms, while indicative of potential plant stress or damage, do not specifically link to thrips, making the identification of the blotched or speckled areas particularly significant in diagnosing thrips infestations.