I am in a continual battle with thrips. If I don't spray, buds will have "bumps" - very similar to what is seen in Becky's photo. Numerous "bumps" will also have a tiny peak, or pointy area. Color-damage is very evident on dark blooms after they open if the buds show these "bumps". I'm sure pastels and near-whites have color damage, too, it's just not as noticeable. If you look very closely at an open bloom or nudge it, you can generally see thrips move, even though they are teeny tiny. They can fly!
If I spray, buds appear to be normal and smooth-surfaced with no evidence of color damage to the bloom when it opens.
