In late 1980, sugarcane in Barbados was attacked by thrips for the first time. Indications are that the insects were introduced by the winds of hurricane "Allen" in August 1980. Island-wide surveys conducted in 1980-31 on ten popular varieties of sugarcane indicated that B62163 and B63118 suffered substantial early damage. In 1981-1982 ratoons of these two varieties were surveyed and population levels were generally higher. The two varieties together comprise over 70% of all sugarcane grown locally. The thrip shows a marked preference for young plants. All stages of the life cycle of the insect occur on the leaves of sugar canes, with the vast majority of the insect population being found in the rolled central spindle of young leaves. Population levels are reduced significantly by heavy rains as well as by soil applications of carbofuran, disulfoton and isozaphos at rates of 1.12 and 2.24 kg/ha. No instances of parasitism or predation have so far been observed.