Periods of dry weather favor the development of the rice thrips. No standing water in the rice fields encourages damage.
These insects are present in all rice environments. In the tropics, the rice thrips becomes abundant in dry periods from July to September and January to March. In temperate areas, the insects migrate and hibernate on graminaceous weeds during the winter season.
The adult thrips are day-flying. They migrate during the day and look for newly planted rice fields and other hosts.
Eggs are laid in the slits of leaf blade tissue. The upper half of the egg is exposed.
Neonate larvae feed on the soft tissues of unopened young leaves.