Heteromeles-arbutifolia
Guides
Liothrips ilex
toyon gall thrips
A gall-forming thrips species in the family Phlaeothripidae, Liothrips ilex is commonly known as the toyon gall thrips due to its association with toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia). The species induces distinctive galls on host plant foliage. Like other phlaeothripids, it exhibits the typical thrips life history with propupal and pupal stages. The species has been documented in North America with over 1,000 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is relatively well-recorded where its host plant occurs.