I believe the proper name would be Myoporum laetum 'Carsonii' (without the initial "r").

My fist question would be...What are "all the advised treatments" that you have used? Detail might be beneficial.

BTW, I don't think that "prun(ing) them down to ziltch" is the answer!

Here is a link that might be useful: Thrips Management Guidelines--UC IPM

Thanks for your reply, brandon. I am so tired of these awful looking mistake plantings. I was trying to cut to the chase re. details. I did the research and husband did the fix attempts. My research told me they are probably "chili thrips". They are reddish brown and almost microscopic. It was said that it was a bad time for these pests ( 2 yrs ago), and they'd be extremely difficult to remove. Oh yeah! Believe he used Spinosad as well as a systemic. We were loath to use these for fear of harming any potential friendly bugs, but had become desperate. The treatments were to be applied at specific a time, which he did. This recommended regime was faithfully adhered to two seasons in a row. I have now given up on a treatment.
Thank you for the site which is partially quoted below, and hence my prune off all the leaves theory :

"Prune and destroy injured and infested terminals when managing a few ****small specimen plants in the landscape. Regular pruning of infested parts can be especially effective with the gall-making Cuban laurel thrips. Avoid shearing plants. Shearing, which is clipping dense foliage to maintain an even surface on formal hedges, stimulates susceptible new growth. Prune by cutting plants just above branch crotches and nodes instead of shearing off terminals....."
***10-12 ft. trees are likely not "small specimen plants", but I am at a loss of what to attempt before simply chopping them down. Hope you or someone has an idea. Thanks so much!

I meant to ask: are Cuban Laurel thrips, by chance, Chili thrips? Chili is a nickname, I'd imagine.

Thread continued at link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: New Thread