Thrips

Order Thysanoptera

The Thrips (Order Thysanoptera) includes 83 species across 6 families and 39 genera in our directory.

About Thrips

Thysanoptera (thrips) includes ~6,000 described species. Thrips are among the smallest flying insects - most are just 1-2mm long. Despite their tiny size, they are major agricultural pests worldwide.

Economic Impact

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) is considered one of the top 10 most economically important pest insects globally, causing billions in crop damage through direct feeding and transmission of tospoviruses like tomato spotted wilt virus.

Ecological Role

Some thrip species are actually beneficial predators that feed on pest mites and other small arthropods. Thrips are also pollinators of some tropical plants, including certain palm species.

Families in Thysanoptera (6)

Species in Thysanoptera (83)

Aeolothrips vittipennis

Aeolothripidae

just over 300 spmns coll'ed during 2 summers of arboreal surveys in c. TX (w. Travis Co.) ( 4 ) Type Locality: Topeka, Illinois

Chilli thrips

Scirtothrips dorsalis

Thripidae

Identification: Head and legs are pale. Three pairs of ocellar setae on the head. Eight antennal segments. Segments, I-II are pale and III-VIII are dark. From Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent, nowadays widely distributed.

Clover thrips

Haplothrips leucanthemi

Phlaeothripidae

Identification: Both sexes winged. Body brown to dark brown, fore tarsi and base of antennal segment III yellow; forewing pale with base extensively shaded. ITIS reports it as a native species. Associated with large daisy flowers, such as those of Ch

Cuban Laurel Thrips

Gynaikothrips ficorum

Phlaeothripidae

Identification: Both sexes fully winged. This and G. uzeli are introduced species from Southeast Asia.

Eastern Flower Thrips

Frankliniella tritici

Thripidae

Identification: one of a group of Frankliniella spp. in which the pedicel of antennal segment III is swollen, or enlarged in some way - TOC see UF Extension factsheet for microscopic details for identification Adults from se and coastal US (Florida,

Echinothrips americanus

Thripidae

These thrips are generally slow-moving compared to a western flower thrips (WFT). Damage to crops can range from minor to extensive, and production may decrease.

Erythrothrips keeni

Aeolothripidae

Identification: Forewings broad, posterior half of forewings dark including clavus but basal third entirely pale ( photo )

Greenhouse Thrips

Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis

Thripidae

First detected in the US in 1870s. A pest of greenhouse plants. The larval parasite Thripobius semiluteus was introduced into California from Brazil and Australia in the mid-1980s.[Cite:185010]

Heterothrips quercicola

Heterothripidae

Type Locality: Babylon, Long Island, Suffolk Co., New York

Leptothrips larreae

Phlaeothripidae

nearly 100 spmns coll'ed, mostly on oaks and elms, over 2 summers of arboreal surveys in c.TX (w. Travis Co.)

Marigold Thrips

Neohydatothrips samayunkur

Thripidae

Identification: Body bicolored yellow and brown; hind tibiae with brown markings; abdominal tergites 9-10 as dark as 7-8

Myoporum Thrips

Klambothrips myopori

Phlaeothripidae

Not a native species. Introduced from Australia or New Zealand.

Onion Thrips

Thrips tabaci

Thripidae

Almost worldwide. They are a severe pest of onions and related plants. They can also attack cabbage, cotton, tomatoes, and almost any cultivated plant. Considered invasive in this country (from Asia). (Capinera, John L. North American Vegetable Pests

Orothrips kelloggi

Aeolothripidae

Identification: Wings broad with 3 dark transverse bands, at base, medially and at apex

Torvothrips kosztarabi

Phlaeothripidae

Identification: Inhabits galls of the coccoid Olliffiella cristicola on Emory oak, Quercus emoryi . . Approximately 25% of galls are occupied by thrips.

Toyon Thrips

Liothrips ilex

Phlaeothripidae

Identification: Breeding on young leaves, inducing irregular galls and leaf distortion; pupating in soil (Bailey, 1938: 64).

alligatorweed thrips

Amynothrips andersoni

Phlaeothripidae

Used in the biological control of the noxious aquatic weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides (alligatorweed). Has been introduced to areas, for control where the host plant has established.