I live in North Tustin, Orange County and we have the large green fig eater beetles that most people call Japanese beetles. I think us Californian’s confuse these and call them Japanese beetles. I’ve only learned a few years ago myself that this was incorrect.

With Chili thrips, I’ve had them terribly every summer but ignored it until two years ago when I started spraying with conserve and another spray that I can’t think of right now. After spraying, I got rid of the chili thrips but then got other pests worse than before. I never get spider mites but I had such a bad case of it last year that the rose garden looked worse than before the thrips and my baby rooted cuttings died so quickly. I decided to officially stop all spraying started ordering in beneficial insects and already I’ve seen a huge difference! I would suggest going this route if possible. In Silverado Canyon, we run the PLNThouse nursery, and my roses there are totally pest free in which I’m assuming is thanks to being out in nature with tons of beneficial insects everywhere. We do no spraying here.

Thanks, @ocbrian1 for the info on the fig eater beetles. And for the confirmation on the beneficials being the way to go in fighting chili thrips.