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Pests

Thrips on Colocasia

Commonly affects: Colocasia esculenta (Taro / Elephant Ear)

Silvery streaks and small dark specks appear on leaves, with rasped, discoloured patches developing over time, especially on new growth.

Potential Causes

  1. 1Thrips feeding on leaf tissue, rasping the surface and leaving distinctive silvery scarring
  2. 2Warm conditions favouring population growth
  3. 3Introduction from a nearby infested plant

Solution Steps

  1. 1Use blue sticky traps to monitor and reduce adult thrips
  2. 2Apply insecticidal soap or a spinosad-based treatment for active infestations
  3. 3Remove severely damaged leaves
  4. 4Isolate affected plants from other houseplants until cleared

Prevention Tip

Check new, still-unfurling Colocasia leaves closely for thrips damage, since this tender growth is often targeted first.