It is used as a biological control agent to stop the spread of Clidemia hirta (Koster's curse), an invasive plant species that does much damage in many tropical areas of the world.

It was introduced and released in Hawai'i in 1953, where, two months later, it was reproducing on C. hirta and was considered established.

[1] This introduction terminated the problem in pasturelands, but C. hirta remains a problem in heavily shaded forests where L. urichi does not normally establish itself.

[1] Infested tips of C. hirta may contain all stages of L. urichi but larvae tend to cause the most damage.

The thrips can control mature C. hirta by attacking young succulent growth causing tip die-back.