Community identification
Thrips
Order Thysanoptera
- Order & Family
- Order: Thysanoptera; Families include Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae
- Size
- 0.5 to 5 mm (extremely small and slender)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found on the leaves, flowers, and buds of a wide variety of plants, as well as in soil and under bark.
Diet & Feeding
Most species feed on plant sap by piercing cells and sucking the contents; some are predatory or feed on fungal spores.
Behavior Patterns
Thrips are known for their fringe-winged appearance and jerky movements. They reproduce rapidly and can swarm under warm, humid conditions.
Risks & Benefits
They are major agricultural pests that cause leaf scarring and transmit viral diseases to plants. However, some species act as pollinators or beneficial predators of other pests like mites.