Thrips
Scientific Name: There are over 7,000 described species within the order Thysanoptera; a specific scientific name cannot be determined from this image alone. Examples include Frankliniella occidentalis (Western flower thrips) or Thrips tabaci (Onion thrips).
Order & Family: Order: Thysanoptera, Family: Varies (e.g., Thripidae, Phlaeothripidae)
Size: Typically 0.5 to 2 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Thrips are found in a wide variety of habitats globally, frequently inhabiting flowers, leaves, fruits, and buds of plants. They can be found in agricultural fields, greenhouses, gardens, and wild vegetation.
Diet & Feeding
Most thrips species feed on plants, piercing plant cells and sucking out the contents, primarily from leaves, flowers, and fruits. Some species are predatory, feeding on other small arthropods or their eggs, and a few are fungivores.
Behavior Patterns
Thrips are active insects, often found on flowers and leaves. They move relatively quickly for their size and can fly, though their flight is often described as weak or erratic. They can reproduce rapidly, with some species being parthenogenetic (reproducing without fertilization). Their life cycle includes egg, two larval instars, a prepupal stage, a pupal stage, and the adult.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Many thrips species are considered agricultural pests, causing damage to crops by feeding (leading to silvering, distortion, or necrosis of plant tissues) and by transmitting plant viruses (e.g., Tomato spotted wilt virus). Benefits: Some thrips species are beneficial as pollinators, while others are predatory and can help control populations of other pest insects like spider mites.
Identified on: 8/25/2025