Thrips
Scientific Name: Thysanoptera (order)
Order & Family: Order: Thysanoptera; various families (e.g., Thripidae)
Size: Typically 1 to 2 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Found globally on a wide variety of plants, including agricultural crops, garden flowers, and greenhouse plants.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily herbivores that feed on plant sap by puncturing the outer layer of plant tissue and sucking out the contents.
Behavior Patterns
Thrips are known for their fringed wings and the ability to reproduce rapidly via both sexual and asexual (parthenogenesis) means. They are often found in tight spaces like flower buds.
Risks & Benefits
They are considered major agricultural pests because they cause cosmetic damage to plants and can transmit harmful plant viruses such as the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus.
Identified on: 6/5/2026