They cause surface damage on nectarine fruit. It's mostly cosmetic. I haven't heard of nor seen damage on peach, apricot, or plum/pluot.

Yes I only get damage on my nectarines. Just cosmetic.

About half of the developing fruit of my apricot now has white blemishes on it. I am assuming this is from the thrips and is cosmetic. Most of the latest new leaves are twisted and damaged. The older leaves are fine.

There is a nectarine next to this tree that is just now losing flowers. Would spraying the tree with soapy water with a drop of olive oil kill the thrips and prevent damage?

From what I've read Spinosad is the best insecticide for thrips. I've used it on blueberries and it seemed to help.

Thrips attack any fruit tree that has white/light colored blooms. They have attacked our nectarine, satsuma plum, santa rosa plum&pear every year. The biggest problem is they attack when the bee's are pollinating, there by no spraying anything. We tried a soil drench this year to control them, don't know if it worked yet. We also for the first time this year tried spraying light blue plastic cups with pam cooking spray and hanging them in the trees. (ck Rose site- for blue cups getting rid of thrips)We won't know about this until the fruit starts to mature. Thrips don't make the fruit un- eatable but it sure makes the outside look bad.

FRUITNUT glad to see you back ---you have been missed.