Thunderstorm creatures do not have a good reputation because they have become known as nuisances and pests. However, numerous details about the biology and way of life of the insects remain hidden from the nature lover. A closer look is worthwhile, because the insects have very specific intentions with their behavior.

There are over 200 species of thunderstorm animals in Germany

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Fight
  3. development
  4. Prevent
  5. Overview and naming
  6. Recognize
  7. flight behavior
  8. Dangerous?
  9. Useful or harmful?
  10. frequently asked Questions

    11. the essentials in brief

    • Thunderstorm creatures can be effectively combated with household remedies such as nettle brew, soapy water, neem oil or sticky traps
    • Thunderstorm creatures mostly feed on plant sap and cause damage similar to that of aphids; however, there are also predatory species that act as pest exterminators, eating mites, scale insects and their eggs
    • Beneficial insects such as flower bugs, lacewing larvae and predatory mites feed on thrips

    What helps against thunderstorm creatures?

    Thunderstorm creatures appear suddenly and take advantage of good living conditions. If they settle on houseplants, they will find a rich supply of food and multiply en masse. In order to get the spread under control, gentle methods or home remedies have proven themselves. You should generally avoid using chemical insecticides. These endanger your health and not only damage unwanted insects.

    tips

    The tiny insects are magically attracted to blue colors. To detect an infestation, you can place a blue cloth on the window sill next to your plants.

    shower

    You can get rid of the pests gently by spraying your plants with a hard jet of water. In this way, the insects are washed away. Don't forget the undersides of the leaves, because the insects use their blistered feet to cling to smooth surfaces. This method is suitable if the infestation has not yet passed the initial stage.

    soapy water

    This home remedy is particularly gentle and not only helps against thrips. Mix a liter of water with two tablespoons of oil and add a dash of dish soap. Alternatively, you can dissolve 15 grams of soft or curd soap in the same amount of water. The solution is distributed with an atomizer so that the entire plant is misted. The treatment should be repeated over several days, spraying the plant with pure water every other day. This prevents pore clogging.

    nettle brew

    Some herbs help in pest control because their ingredients and essential oils not only promote health but also repel insects. For a nettle decoction you need about 500 grams of fresh leaves, which are poured over with five liters of boiling water. You can increase the effect with garlic or onions. Let the mixture steep for 24 hours and spray the plant with the undiluted brew every few days.

    neem oil

    The oil is obtained from the seeds of the tree of the same name. It contains the active ingredient azadirachtin. This develops an insecticidal effect and prevents the larvae from moulting into adult insects. Adult insects cannot be controlled with neem oil. Dab the larval clusters with a cotton swab soaked in oil. Apply additional means to fight the plague.

    sticky traps

    This particular trap has been coated with glue so that flying insects stick to the surface after landing. Blue panels are particularly effective at attracting thrips. However, this method is only suitable for checking a possible infestation and not for combating it. Wingless stages and species are not caught by the trap and can continue to reproduce.

    Sticky traps attract thrips and let them die in agony

    deploy beneficials

    In closed rooms such as greenhouses or conservatories, you can spread beneficial insects that ensure a natural containment of the thrips population. Predators include flower bugs, lacewing larvae and predatory mites. The beneficial insects can be purchased on the Internet or in garden stores. If you use beneficial insects, you should refrain from using other control methods. Otherwise, you endanger the survival of beneficial insects. You should also optimize the living conditions for the beneficial insects. Adjust temperature and humidity accordingly.

    temperature humidity
    predatory mites 22 to 26 degrees Celsius 70 to 80 percent
    flower bugs 18 to 25 degrees Celsius 60 to 95 percent
    lacewings 20 to 26 degrees Celsius undemanding

    digression

    lifespan of thunderstorm creatures

    The lifespan of thunderstorm animals depends very much on the climate. In warmer regions one generation often survives for a whole year, in colder regions several generations are born and die each year. If you want to wait until the thunderstorm creatures die on their own, you can wait a long time, because they reproduce asexually - and in large numbers. From egg to insect it takes about 20 days, the adult thrips can live for several weeks to months.

    From the egg to the adult thunderstorm animal

    The biology of the thunderstorm creatures has been very well researched and still holds many secrets. Since the order contains several families and genera, the way of life is very diverse.

    reproduction and larval development

    Thunderstorm creatures can reproduce asexually

    Most thrips develop several generations per year provided weather conditions are optimal. Permanently warm greenhouses (72.95€) favor mass propagation. In temperate climates, thunderstorm creatures develop only one generation per year. Most insects reproduce by asexual reproduction. There are some species that only produce females.

    The larvae develop from the eggs within two to 20 days. They then show different ways of life depending on the species. Some stay on the surface, while other thrips larvae retreat into the substrate. They resemble adult thrips in appearance and lifestyle, but have no wings.

    Further larval development:

    • two larval stages are followed by a prepupal stage
    • Prepupal stage occurs partly in the cocoon
    • then one or two more pupal stages

    food

    Like green aphids, the black thunderstorm creatures feed mainly on plant sap. They pierce individual cells with their mouthparts and suck the liquid out of them. The plant tissue dies and changes color from light to shiny silver. While some species are specialized on certain host plants, other thrips feed on plant saps from different species. There are also representatives who feed mainly on bollards.

    Food spectrum of thrips:

    • predatory species feed on mites, scale insects and eggs
    • some species use fungi on dead wood as food
    • some thrips develop plant galls in which they feed on plant tissue

    distribution

    Because of their low weight, thrips are dispersed hundreds or thousands of kilometers downwind. They are therefore considered airborne plankton because they cannot actively change their flight direction. With the exception of the polar regions, thrips have spread worldwide. Even wingless species could be carried across the seas on the wind. The plant trade, which has been in operation since the Middle Ages, also contributes to the spread of insects. Thrips are most common in the tropics.

    hibernate

    In Central Europe, some adult thrips survive the winter. The larvae rarely overwinter. They flee unstable habitats such as cornfields and look for sheltered retreats. They prefer to retreat to loose soil or litter, but they also crawl in crevices and cracks under tree bark. Narrow hibernation quarters that ensure physical contact on all sides are ideal. As a result, it is more common for them to get close to people. They occasionally set off fire alarms when they enter the tight spaces.

    Prevent

    A pest infestation is difficult to prevent because the insects can appear suddenly. However, they can ensure that the living conditions are not optimal for the thrips. Optimal plant care also plays a major role in prevention.

    humidity

    Thrips do not like moisture

    Thrips like dry air. If your plants are infested, put them in the bathroom temporarily or spray the plants regularly. With high humidity, the reproduction of thrips is extremely limited.

    In winter, place bowls filled with water on the radiators so that there is a humid microclimate above the windowsill. A large planter filled with gravel collects excess irrigation water, which can then evaporate. Clay pots regulate the water balance in the substrate and direct excess water to the outside, where it evaporates on the surface.

    change substrate

    After you have identified an infestation and successfully combated the pests, you should repot the plant. Thrips larvae live on or in the substrate where they pupate. If you don't completely replace the substrate, the insects may reappear next year.

    tips

    Avoid waterlogging, as this weakens your plants. If their immune system is already attacked, an infestation by pests is favored.

    Overview and naming

    Thunderstorm animals, which are officially referred to as thrips in German, represent the order Thysanoptera. Long hair fringes on the edges of the wings are characteristic. There are around 5,500 species worldwide, including 400 in Central Europe. More than 200 species occur in Germany. The name thunderstorm animal comes from the way of life of these insects. They always seem to appear en masse when a summer thunderstorm is imminent.

    Old dialect names for thunderstorm animals:

    • Ostfriesland: Gnidd or Putsigel
    • Sudetenland: weather spirits
    • Rhineland: Flicker or Hommelfrogs
    • Flensburg: Kaulpan

    blister feet

    The insects have lobe-like structures on the terminal phalanges of their legs called arolium. You can increase the internal pressure so that the flaps inflate like a balloon. Due to these special structures, thunderstorm creatures are able to cling to smooth surfaces. In order to further improve adhesion, the insects wet their feet with a secretion.

    thrips

    In Germany, 26 species are listed as pests that cause impairments in agriculture and plant breeding. Common pests are onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and Parthenothrips dracaenae. Thrips is the scientific term for a genus within the thrips, which was adopted in German.

    Grain pests in Central Europe:

    • Limothrips cerealium
    • Limothrips denticornis
    • Haplothrips aculeatu

    Recognize

    Thrips reach a size between one and three millimeters. Their body is comparatively elongated. The heavily modified and asymmetrical mouthparts are characteristic of thunderstorm animals. While the right upper jaw is strongly receded, the left upper jaw forms into a bristle. These mandibles serve to pierce plant tissue and suck up the sap. Adult insects have four narrow wings, with some species being wingless. The larvae are green in color and translucent.

    Likelihood of confusion: white and black flies

    Occasionally this term is also used for thunderstorm creatures, which can lead to confusion. Fungus gnats, which belong to the order Diptera, are mainly referred to as blackflies. They represent a genus within the mosquitoes. Behind the white flies hide whiteflies, which belong to the order of the beak cysts.

    flight behavior

    Thunderstorm creatures are not considered acrobats because they can neither fly against the wind nor climb into the air under their own power. The reason for this is the strongly fringed wings, which do not allow a change of direction. Rather, the insects are dependent on the summer thermals.

    They rise with the warm air masses and are carried in higher layers of the air when the weather is nice and temperatures exceed 20 degrees Celsius. When the air pressure drops due to an approaching thunderstorm, thunderstorm creatures put their wings on their bodies and let themselves sink. They end up on the head, in the hair and on the skin.

    Interesting facts about the flight:

    • Flight speed of ten centimeters per second
    • lower wing beat frequency than mosquitoes
    • have no control over flight direction

    digression

    Physical factors force thunderstorm creatures to land

    Researchers have found that the change in field strength is a significant reason for descent from higher air layers. When the weather is nice, the field strength is between 100 and 300 volts per meter. Thunderstorm creatures can then drift in higher air layers. During a thunderstorm, the field strength increases to values of up to 50,000 volts per meter. Thunder and lightning threaten. Thunderstorm animals react even at significantly lower field strengths. They flap their wings ready at 8,000 volts per meter to get to the ground.

    Are thunderstorm creatures dangerous?

    The black insects are seen as annoying companions on hot and humid summer days. They settle on the skin and bite, which can cause itching in sensitive people. However, the insects do not feed on blood. Rather, the bite is an accidental and harmless side effect.

    Symptoms after a sting:

    • skin lesions
    • red swellings
    • partially inflamed areas

    fluid intake

    Thunderstorm creatures can "bite"

    Some thrips are able to sting with their mouthparts. Researchers suspect that thunderstorm creatures are misguided by sweat secretions and want to absorb moisture. The mouthparts unintentionally scratch the skin. This explains why thunderstorm creatures seem to prey on athletes' naked limbs.

    search for protection

    Since rain and cold are great dangers for thunderstorm creatures, the insects crawl into cracks and crevices when there is a threat of precipitation. After landing on humans, they also crawl under clothing in search of protection. The animals do not usually sting there.

    Although thunderstorm creatures are annoying, they cannot do anything to humans. They are not bloodsuckers.

    Keep thunderstorm creatures away

    Bright colors like white or yellow seem to attract thunderstorm creatures. If you don't want to be a target, you should prefer dark clothing. If the insects have settled on your clothing, you can shake them off or remove them with a lint roller. Sunglasses help when jogging so that the thrips don't accidentally get caught in the eye.

    What to do against thunderstorm creatures in the apartment?

    Thrips can easily get into the home, even if there is a fly screen on the window. Sweep the insects off the floor with a dustpan and broom after they settle. Wipe the floor damp or dry with a microfiber cloth. Individual animals can be picked up with an adhesive strip.

    Useful or harmful?

    Some thrips are regular visitors to certain plants. The tropical cycads from the genus Macrozamia are pollinated by thunderstorm creatures. It is possible that the cycads are even dependent on the thrips of the genus Cycadothrips and cannot reproduce without their help.

    Such a dependency is also known from Europe. In the Faroe Islands, common heather can only survive because it is pollinated by heather thrips. It is the only species that can be used as a pollinator. All other insects fall out due to the strong winds and only the thunderstorm creatures are carried to the flowers by the wind.

    Pollinate thunderstorm creatures:

    • various species of common heather and heather
    • Lantana
    • Asian Shorea Trees
    • exotic Belliolum and Popowia species

    plant pests

    About 95 percent of all thrips species are considered pests. They are found as plant suckers on many houseplants such as rubber trees, scrunchie or various orchids. The humidity in the apartment is often low, which is good for the insects.Since the animals are tiny and therefore almost impossible to see with the naked eye, identifying the pest is often not easy. The damage symptoms can be similar to those of other plant pests.

    This is how a thrips infestation manifests itself:

    • silvery gray speckles on the leaves
    • strong deformations sometimes occur
    • Leaves turn brown as the disease progresses
    nutrition harmful stage damage picture
    spider mites sap insects silvery spots, fine cobwebs
    fungus gnats hair roots larvae Seedlings lose stability and wither
    scale insects sap larvae and insects Plant parts die off
    aphids sap insects discolored leaves, sticky coating

    frequently asked Questions

    What do thunderstorm creatures eat?

    The thrips have a wide range of food. There are purely herbivorous species that feed on the tissues and sap of various plants. Others visit flowers to eat the pollen. There are thunderstorm creatures that feed on fungi in dead wood and others that are predatory. The latter are after arthropods and their eggs.

    Where do thunderstorm creatures come from?

    The larvae of thrips live in or on the ground. Here they pupate before being dispersed by the wind as adult insects. Thermal winds carry the insects up into the air. When conditions become less than optimal, they flap their wings to descend to the ground. This is the case in muggy weather before a thunderstorm approaches.

    How long do thunderstorm creatures live?

    The life expectancy of thunderstorm animals varies and depends on the temperature. Although some species are able to overwinter, most thrips die after one season. California flower thrips can survive for around 75 days at temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius. If the thermometer drops to 15 degrees Celsius, the service life is only 46 days. The life expectancy is also reduced at higher temperatures. At 35 degrees Celsius, the insects die after about nine days.

    Why are thunderstorm creatures crawling around on the monitor screen?

    Liquid crystal monitors in particular have a magical attraction for the small insects. They are attracted to the light and crawl through the ventilation slots behind the diffuser film and panel glass. It's visible on the monitor and usually doesn't make it out. When the insects crawl into cracks and crevices, they are looking for protection from cold temperatures and moisture. Niches that offer physical contact on all sides are preferred.

    Thunderstorm creatures can appear here:

    • in cracks behind wallpaper
    • on TV
    • in the picture frame

Category:

Animals in the garden