Symptoms

• Infestation by leaf gall thrips is more serious at higher altitudes, especially in younger vines and also in the nurseries.
• The feeding of thrips on tender leaves causes the leaf margins to curl down (Image1) and inwards resulting in the formation of marginal leaf galls.
• The infested leaves become thick, malformed and crinkled.
• Life stages of the insect can be seen within the gall (Image2).
• In severe cases of infestation, the growth of young vines is affected.

Control Measures

• Spray Dimethoate 30 EC 1.5 ml/L (0.05%) on tender flushes. Repeat the spraying if necessary.