Onion maggots: Life cycle, control and management

Tobacco thrips (Thrips tabaci) are small, heat-loving pests that can cause significant damage to onion crops in warm years. Thrips are also known as ‘thunderbugs’ because they are particularly active in muggy, warm weather, which is often followed by thunderstorms. These tiny insects often spread in huge swarms and can cause problems when present in large numbers. The larvae are more easily visible: small, yellow to light brown, elongated creatures that are mainly found in the leaf axils of the youngest leaves.