As temperatures climb, a familiar seasonal nuisance is making a comeback: thrips, tiny insects known for their tendency to latch onto clothing.

Thrips, known for their tendency to latch onto clothing, have a preference on bright colors especially yellow and green. Photo from Xiaohongshu user "张口就来"

One simple way to reduce encounters with these bugs is to avoid wearing brightly colored clothing, particularly those in yellow, green, and silver-gray, which appear to strongly attract them.

About the size of a grain and slender in shape, thrips feed by sucking sap from tender plant tissues. They thrive in environments around 20°C, making spring and early summer an ideal time for their activity.

While thrips can be difficult to shake off once they land on clothing, they pose little threat to humans. Their bites may cause mild pain or itching, but they do not feed on animal or human blood.

Bright-colored sticky traps are a common way to reduce damage caused by thrips to plants. Photo from Xiaohongshu user "xuexin陈"

If a thrip lands on you or bites, experts advise against swatting it. These insects are extremely fragile, and crushing them can leave stains on clothing and may even trigger skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Instead, a quick shake of the clothing is often enough to dislodge them. Thrips on exposed skin can be gently blown away, and any irritation from bites can be relieved with medicated oils or moisturizing lotions.