Thrips

Found globally on a wide variety of plants, including flowers, leaves, and fruits in gardens, greenhouses, and agricultural fields.

Most species feed on plant sap by puncturing the plant tissue with their mouthparts; some species are predatory and eat other small insects or mites.

They are often found in clusters within flower buds or on the undersides of leaves. They have a unique life cycle involving egg, two larval stages, prepupa, pupa, and adult stages.

They are major agricultural pests that can cause cosmetic damage to plants and transmit destructive plant viruses. Predatory species can be beneficial by controlling other pest populations.