I seem to have a problem and am losing a lot of buds to these suckers! I've been spraying the Bayer Rose and Flower which contains Imidacloprid. I think I will also hit them with Bayer Systemic granular.

I'm not 100% these are thrips as I've never had them before, but the symptoms fit the description. I see very small, black, fast moving bugs running up and down the flower spikes. The buds dry up and never open. It has wiped out spikes on hard-cane dends and spikes on my Epi's.

What has me confused, these bugs are very small, I thought they were sugar ants although they are smaller than ants. They move quickly. I didn't think Thrips moved fast.

Would appreciate any experience with dealing with these critters.

Jane