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Pest management should be based on the proper identification of pests and knowledge of their biology. This publication describes the major pests of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in Florida and guidelines for their management. Some insects may be more important in some areas of the state than others. For each pest described, a table of management options will be found after the damage. Previous versions: Webb, S., P. Stansly, D. Schuster, and J. Funderburk. 2005. “Insect Management for Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplant”. EDIS 2005 (11). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/115118.

This EDIS publication is an alternate version of a page published first on the Featured Creatures website. The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences. This 3-page fact sheet that discusses the insidious flower bug was written by Danielle Sprague and Joe Funderburk, and published by the UF Entomology and Nematology Department, October 2016. EENY-665/IN1148: Insidious Flower Bug, Minute Pirate Bug Orius insidiosus Say (Insecta: Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) (ufl.edu)

Several invasive species of thrips have established in Florida and are causing serious economic losses to vegetable, ornamental, and agronomic crops. Damage to crops results from thrips feeding and egg-laying injury, by the thrips vectoring of plant diseases, the cost of using control tactics, and the loss of pesticides due to resistance. This 12-page fact sheet describes the biology and ecology of thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus, and recommends a management program. Written by Joe Funderburk, Stuart Reitz, Steve Olson, Phil Stansly, Hugh Smith, Gene McAvoy, Ozan Demirozer, Crystal Snodgrass, Mathews Paret, and Norm Leppla, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, August 2011. ENY859/IN895: Managing Thrips and Tospoviruses in Tomato (ufl.edu)

Revised! ENY-658, a 10-page illustrated fact sheet by Joe Funderburk, Stuart Reitz, Phil Stansly, Dave Schuster, Greg Nuessly, and Norm Leppla, provides pepper and eggplant growers with management information for this serious pest of ornamental, vegetable, and fruit crops in the field and greenhouse — biology and ecology, tomato spotted wilt, and management programs. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009. ENY-658/IN401: Managing Thrips in Pepper and Eggplant (ufl.edu)

ENY-845, a 10-page illustrated fact sheet by Joe Funderburk, Stan Diffie, Jyotsna Sharma, Amanda Hodges, and Lance Osborne, describes the common thrips associated with ornamental plants in the southeastern U.S., their biology, feeding behavior and damage, natural enemies, sampling and identification. Includes references and a key representing thrips species from three families. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2007.

Thrips are serious pests of ornamental, vegetable, and fruit crops in the field and greenhouse. Feeding and egg-laying by thrips results in distortion, discoloration, silvering, and bronzing of leaves and fruits of vegetables reducing their market value. Some species of thrips are vectors of bunyaviruses (family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus, type species Tomato spotted wilt). Severe epidemics occur annually on food, fiber, and ornamental crops in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the world. This document is ENY-658, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Date printed: March 2004. ENY-658/IN401: Managing Thrips in Pepper and Eggplant (ufl.edu)

There are about 5,000 described species of thrips (insects in the Order Thysanoptera) (Moritz et al. 2001; Mound 1997). Most feed on fungi and live in leaf litter or on dead wood. The species that feed on higher plants occur mostly in the Family Thripidae. This family includes the important pest species. Some reproduce in flowers and feed on the cells of the flower tissues, on pollen grains, and on small developing fruits. Many of the flower-livingspecies are partly predatory. Other species primarily feed on leaves. Some species are predators on smallinsects. Some of the most common pest species feed on a wide range of plants and even prey on mites. This document is ENY682, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Date published: January 8, 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in415