All species of Thrips are small elongated insects about 4 mm. long, commonly referred to as thunder bugs due to their habit of landing on washing and other convenient surfaces during sultry conditions. Inconveniently, the term thrips is the singular as well as plural for these pests so there is no such thing as a thrip. They are strong flyers on feathery wings unlike those of most other insects, and can spread rapidly as a result. Feeding is carried out by rasping the mouthparts along the surface of leaf tissue, leaving characteristic silvery dots and patches, and some leaf distortion can occur. Exudation of sap from the resulting damage can lead to watery or coloured droplets appearing on the leaves, and to infection by sooty moulds. Larvae and adults feed in the same way and usually select the softest tissue - hence the particular damage to flowers and buds.

Control of thrips is usually achieved chemically since on cyclamen their attacks are infrequent and biological control is unavailable. Commercial producers of crops such as cucumbers where thrips damage is economically significant use a product known as Thrip Stick where an integrated control programme is in use (a combination of biological and chemical controls selected for mutual compatibility). This product contains polybutene which is a highly sticky substance which attracts the pests to their death. If thrips damage is significant on cyclamen in a collection or as a crop, this product may therefore bear close examination. The chemical alternatives principally depend on the pyrethroid group of ingredients (deltamethrin and permethrin) and on HCH. All of these chemicals have a contact action and none of the available systemic pesticides appear to have an effective level of control. Sprays such as these would all be applied as high volume, that is to the point of run-off from the leaves.