The pest is pinkish due to their delicious violet flower diet. All the others not in the pics are walking around with dark poop droplets attached but these two are no longer attached to theirs. Are these a stage of thrips? I've had thrips before and these look nothing like the adults I've seen. These are oval and glossy looking. The tinier ones look exactly the same just smaller This was the best I could do for photos. I have been searching google to no avail and hoping some redditors can keep me from tearing my hair out in frustration. Thanks.
by CodyCutieDoggy
4 Comments
I’ve never had thrips on violets but I had them on my other plants and I think these should be a bit more elongated to look more like thrips? But im so not sure :'( I hope they aren’t thrips but idk what else could it be? I I I hope someone with more experience can tell you more and good luck!
I believe they call that honey dew and I believe it comes from thrips
https://preview.redd.it/5kaz73dy8w2g1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3440c708729eec5be564324a17db272ff9fd3826
Those reddish oval things look nothing like thrips. If anything, they might be mites based on the size, their generally rounded-off shape, the lack of a head and the fact that you say you’ve seen them move on their own.
[Thrips](https://ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/thripscard.html). (Note they generally look pointy at both ends at every stage in their development, and at this magnification you should be able to see a head section and maybe even eye spots.)
[cyclamen mites](https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/broad-mite-and-cyclamen-mite/#gsc.tab=0). (Not saying that’s what these are, but it is the closest thing a quick google search showed me, and they match the overall vibe, even if the color is more whitish.)
Best of luck getting rid of them, whatever they might be!