Thrips (Thunderbug/Storm fly)

Gardens, agricultural fields, indoor plants, and frequently hitchhiking indoors on clothing or pets during warm weather.

Mostly herbivorous, feeding on plant juices by puncturing the plant surface; some species are predatory or eat fungi.

Active during warm, humid conditions; they are known for swarming and can be carried long distances by wind. They undergo a unique metamorphosis involving several pupal-like stages.

Benefits: A few species act as pollinators or control mite populations. Risks: Major agricultural pests that damage crops and transmit plant viruses; they are known to occasionally bite humans, causing minor skin irritation or itching, though they do not feed on blood.