Thrips
Guides
Aeolothrips collaris
Aeolothrips collaris is a predatory thrips species in the family Aeolothripidae. It occurs across multiple continents including Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Like other members of its genus, it is recognized by distinctive wing patterning. The species was described by Priesner in 1919.
Amynothrips
Amynothrips is a monotypic genus of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, erected by O'Neill in 1968. The sole described species, Amynothrips andersoni, is a specialized herbivore of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) and has been extensively studied as a biological control agent for this invasive aquatic plant. Research has focused on its host specificity, cold tolerance, and population dynamics in managed release programs.
Ankothrips
Ankothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Melanthripidae. It is recognized as the most ancient extant thrips genus, with fossil evidence indicating an origin in the Early Cretaceous period approximately 94 million years ago. The genus exhibits remarkable morphological stability over this timespan, with two fossil species described from French amber: Ankothrips dupeae from the Late Cretaceous and Ankothrips deploegi from the earliest Eocene. This long-term morphological conservatism is rare among insects.
Ankothrips yuccae
Ankothrips yuccae is a species of thrips in the family Melanthripidae, first described by Moulton in 1926. It is associated with Yucca whipplei as its host plant, on which it breeds without causing major damage. The species is found in California and is one of relatively few documented species in the genus Ankothrips.
Arorathrips
A genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, subfamily Thripinae. The genus was described by Bhatti in 1990 and is considered related to Chirothrips. The single species A. mexicanus has been recorded from Iran, where it was collected from mixed grasses in Hormozgan Province.
Bolothrips bicolor
Bolothrips bicolor is a species of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, subfamily Idolothripinae. The species was first described by Heeger in 1852 under the name Phlaeothrips bicolor. It is a fungus-feeding thrips with a broad distribution spanning Europe, parts of Asia, and North America. The genus Bolothrips contains approximately 90 species worldwide, primarily associated with fungal spores in leaf litter and soil habitats.
Bregmatothrips
Bregmatothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, subfamily Thripinae, established by Hood in 1912. Species within this genus have been documented from the Irano-Turkmenian region, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Two species, B. bournieri and B. dimorphus, have been recorded from cultivated plants including medicinal and aromatic crops and cereals. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of the Thripinae, though specific diagnostic traits require examination of type material.
Caliothrips
bean thrips, banded thrips
Caliothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, subfamily Panchaetothripinae, established by Daniel in 1904. Species in this genus are phytophagous, typically associated with plant leaves, and several are recognized as agricultural pests. The genus includes notable species such as C. phaseoli (bean thrips) and C. fasciatus (North American bean thrips), which feed on legumes and other crops. Adults are characterized by distinct wing banding patterns and small size (~1 mm). Some species have been intercepted in international trade, particularly in navel oranges, triggering quarantine concerns.
Ceranisus
Ceranisus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae. Species are solitary larval endoparasitoids of thrips (Thysanoptera), with females laying eggs within early larval instars of their hosts. The genus has received attention for its potential in biological control of agricultural thrips pests, including Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis, and F. intonsa. Strains collected worldwide show variation in biology and behavior based on geographic origin and phenotypic appearance.
Ceranisus americensis
Ceranisus americensis is a Nearctic species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae. It is one of several thrips-attacking species placed in the genus Ceranisus. The species was described from North America and has been recorded from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus, it is a parasitoid of thrips (Thysanoptera).
Compsothrips
Compsothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, subfamily Idolothripinae. The genus was established by Reuter in 1901 and contains approximately 26 described species distributed across multiple continents. Members of this genus are fungus-feeding thrips, a characteristic trait of the Idolothripinae subfamily. The genus shows considerable diversity in coloration and geographic distribution, with species recorded from North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Echinothrips
Echinothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae containing approximately seven described species. The genus is best known through Echinothrips americanus, a polyphagous pest of greenhouse and agricultural crops that has spread globally from its native range in eastern North America. Species in this genus are phytophagous, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits by piercing and sucking plant cells. The genus exhibits haplo-diploid reproduction with arrhenotokous parthenogenesis, where unfertilized eggs produce haploid males and fertilized eggs produce diploid females.
Echinothrips americanus
Poinsettia thrips, Impatiens thrips, American thrips
Echinothrips americanus is a small thrips species in the family Thripidae, native to eastern North America and first described from Florida in 1913. It has become an invasive pest of global concern, spreading to Europe, Asia, Australia, and other regions since the 1990s. The species is highly polyphagous, feeding on foliage of at least 48 plant families, with particular preference for Araceae and Balsaminaceae. It is primarily a greenhouse and ornamental pest, causing chlorotic damage to leaves through piercing-sucking feeding.
Erythrothrips
Erythrothrips is a genus of predatory thrips in the family Aeolothripidae, established by Moulton in 1911. The genus contains approximately 11 described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with species recorded from the southwestern United States through Mexico to Brazil. Members of this genus are predatory, placing them among the beneficial thrips that contribute to biological control of pest insects.
Erythrothrips keeni
Erythrothrips keeni is a predatory thrips species in the family Aeolothripidae, described by Moulton in 1929. As a member of Aeolothripidae, it belongs to a family characterized by predatory feeding habits. The species is known from North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. Only two observations are recorded in iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Eurythrips
Eurythrips is a genus of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, established by Hinds in 1902. The genus contains approximately 40 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Members of this genus are fungus-feeding thrips, a characteristic common to many Phlaeothripidae. The genus has been documented through limited observations and taxonomic study.
Frankliniella
Frankliniella is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae containing approximately 230 species with cosmopolitan distribution. The genus was established by Karny in 1910. Several species are significant agricultural pests, notably Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips) and F. intonsa, which cause direct feeding damage and vector plant viruses including tomato spotted wilt virus. Species exhibit considerable morphological variability, complicating identification.
Frankliniella tritici
eastern flower thrips, flower thrips
Frankliniella tritici, the eastern flower thrips, is one of the most abundant flower thrips species in the eastern United States. It inhabits blossoms of wild and cultivated plants, including dandelion, and feeds by extracting nutrients directly from individual plant cells. Unlike several congeners, it is not a vector of Tomato spotted wilt virus and is considered a pest of secondary economic importance. It can be difficult to distinguish from similar Frankliniella species without microscopic examination.
Gynaikothrips
fig thrips, gall thrips, leaf-rolling thrips
Gynaikothrips is a genus of tube-tailed thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, containing more than 30 described species. Members are gall-inducing insects primarily associated with Ficus species (fig trees), causing leaf folding and gall formation. Several species are economically significant pests of ornamental ficus in tropical and subtropical regions, with some having established invasive populations in North America and other regions. The genus is characterized by its intimate host relationship with fig trees and distinctive leaf-gall biology.
Gynaikothrips ficorum
Cuban laurel thrips, fig leaf-rolling thrips
Gynaikothrips ficorum is a tube-tailed thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, commonly known as the Cuban laurel thrips or fig leaf-rolling thrips. It is a gall-forming pest of Ficus species, inducing characteristic curled and folded leaf galls where it feeds, reproduces, and shelters. The species has achieved near-cosmopolitan distribution through human transport of its host plants. It was first described by Paul Marchal in 1908 as Phloeothrips ficorum.
Haplothrips leucanthemi
clover thrips, red clover thrips
Haplothrips leucanthemi is a tube-tailed thrips species in the family Phlaeothripidae, originally described from Europe and now recorded across North and South America. It is florivorous, feeding on flowers and pollen of Asteraceae plants, and has been observed as an effective pollinator of these hosts. The species is bisexual, contrasting with the parthenogenetic form H. niger, which molecular and microbiota studies suggest is conspecific or a biotype of H. leucanthemi rather than a distinct species.
Heliothrips
Heliothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae comprising approximately 18 described species. The genus includes economically significant pests, most notably Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (greenhouse thrips), which infests a wide range of cultivated plants. Members of this genus are characterized by their fringed wings and rasping-sucking mouthparts. Several species have been documented as polyphagous herbivores with broad host ranges spanning multiple plant families.
thripsThripidaepestagriculturehorticulturegreenhouse-thripspolyphagousHeliothrips-haemorrhoidalisbiological-control-targetquarantine-pestkiwifruit-peststrawberry-pestavocado-pestornamental-pestworldwide-distributionfringed-wingsThysanopteraPanchaetothripinaeHaliday-183618-speciesgeneralist-herbivorerasping-sucking-mouthpartsHercinothrips
Hercinothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, subfamily Panchaetothripinae, containing several economically significant pest species. The most widely documented species, H. femoralis (banded greenhouse thrips), is a pantropical invader that has established in greenhouses worldwide and feeds on a broad range of vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants. Members of this genus are characterized by their small size, fringed wings, and piercing-sucking mouthparts that cause characteristic silvery streaking and discoloration on host foliage.
Hercinothrips femoralis
Banded Greenhouse Thrips
Hercinothrips femoralis is a pantropical thrips species and significant agricultural pest known as the banded greenhouse thrips. It infests a wide range of crops including bananas, cotton, pineapple, sugar beet, sugar cane, and ornamentals, causing characteristic silver streaking and discoloration of leaf tissue through its piercing-sucking feeding. The species exhibits remarkable phenotypic plasticity with a "phenotype explosion" phenomenon—multiple color morphs and forms that facilitate successful colonization of new regions. Under laboratory conditions at 25°C, it completes development from egg to adult in approximately 21 days with high fecundity (averaging 133 offspring per female), enabling rapid population growth in greenhouses.
Klambothrips myopori
Naio Thrips
Klambothrips myopori is a gall-forming thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae, described by Mound and Morris in 2007. Native to Australia and New Zealand, it invaded California in 2005 and has since become established in Hawaii and the contiguous United States. The species is obligately associated with Myoporum host plants, inducing galls on foliage. It has emerged as a significant pest of ornamental plantings in California, with documented variation in host plant suitability across different Myoporum cultivars.
Leptoglossus
leaf-footed bugs
Leptoglossus is a genus of true bugs in the leaf-footed bug family Coreidae, tribe Anisoscelini. Species are characterized by leaflike dilations of the hind tibia, a diagnostic trait of the genus. The genus is distributed throughout the Americas, with some introduced populations in Europe and Asia. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, notably L. occidentalis, which has become invasive in multiple continents.
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nchanmoss-bugarchaeorrhynchanfulgoromorphancicadomorphanmembracoidtreehopperleafhopperplanthopperpsyllidjumping-plant-lousewhiteflyaleyrodidscale-insectcoccoidmealybugaphidadelgidphylloxeransternorrhynchanthysanopteranthripspsocopteranbarklousebooklousephthirapteranlousesucking-lousechewing-lousemallophagananoplurandermapteranearwigblattodeancockroachtermiteisopteranmantodeanmantidphasmidstick-insectleaf-insectorthopterangrasshopperlocustkatydidcricketmole-cricketpygmy-mole-cricketcamel-cricketcave-cricketwetaensiferancaeliferangryllotalpidmyrmecophilidtettigoniidgryllidacrididpamphagidpneumoridlentulidtristirideumastacidproscopiidtridactylidtetrigidgrouse-locustpygmy-grasshopperplecopteranstoneflyembiopteranwebspinnerzorapteranangel-insectdictyopteranLimothrips denticornis
barley thrips
Limothrips denticornis is a grass-dwelling thrips species with a Holarctic distribution. It is primarily associated with cereal crops, particularly spring barley, where females deposit eggs within leaf sheaths during inflorescence emergence. The species has been documented as an incidental nest parasite of birds and mammals, entering nests passively on grass nest materials. It has been recorded in museum environments as a secondary pest associated with damaged artworks.
Merothrips
Merothrips is a genus of thrips comprising approximately 19 described species in the family Merothripidae. The genus includes both extant species found in subtropical regions and fossil species preserved in amber. Merothrips species have been documented in South America, particularly Brazil, where multiple species occur in sympatry. A fossil species, Merothrips aithiopicus, was described from Miocene-aged Ethiopian amber.
Merothrips floridensis
Merothrips floridensis is a species of thrips in the family Merothripidae, described by Watson in 1927. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, South America, and Europe. In Brazil, it has been documented living in sympatry with M. meridionalis, M. mirus, and M. tympanis. As a member of Merothripidae, it is likely fungivorous, though specific dietary confirmation for this species is not documented.
Montandoniola confusa
Montandoniola confusa is a minute predatory bug in the family Anthocoridae, described in 2009. It has been studied as a biological control agent targeting gall-forming thrips. The species has been recorded in Hawaii and is associated with environments where its thrips prey occur.
Neohydatothrips
soybean thrips (N. variabilis), marigold thrips (N. samayunkur)
Neohydatothrips is the most species-rich genus in the Thripidae subfamily Sericothripinae, with approximately 120 described species. Members are phytophagous thrips that feed and breed on leaves and flowers of diverse host plants. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests and plant virus vectors, including N. variabilis (soybean thrips), which transmits soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus. The genus has a global distribution with approximately 70% of species occurring in the New World.
Neohydatothrips variabilis
soybean thrips
Neohydatothrips variabilis, commonly known as the soybean thrips, is a phytophagous thrips species in the family Thripidae and the most efficient known vector of Soybean Vein Necrosis Orthotospovirus (SVNV). The species has been documented in Central America and North America, with populations prevalent across all soybean-growing states in the United States. Research indicates that SVNV infection enhances vector fitness by increasing survival, longevity, and reproductive parameters while decreasing population doubling time. The species reproduces through sexual reproduction with arrhenotoky, producing haploid males from unfertilized eggs.
Orius vicinus
minute pirate bug
Orius vicinus is a predatory minute pirate bug (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) studied extensively for biological control potential. Under laboratory conditions at 26°C, it completes development from egg to adult in approximately 18–23 days, with females living 15–17 days and producing 31–61 eggs. The species exhibits Type II or Type III functional responses depending on prey stage, with adult prey generally preferred over eggs. It has been observed feeding on spider mites, whiteflies, thrips, and other small arthropods in agricultural settings. Unlike some congeners, O. vicinus does not enter reproductive diapause and continues oviposition through winter conditions.
Orothrips
Orothrips is a genus of predatory thrips in the family Aeolothripidae, established by Moulton in 1907. Members of this genus are small, slender insects with fringed wings characteristic of the order Thysanoptera. As aeolothripids, they are presumed to be predatory, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented. The genus is part of a family known for biological control potential against pest mites and small insects.
Panchaetothripinae
Panchaetothripinae is a subfamily of thrips within Thripidae, first described by Bagnall in 1912. It comprises approximately 144 species across 43 genera globally, though earlier estimates cited 11 genera and more than 50 species. Members are predominantly associated with plant leaves and include several economically significant pest species. The subfamily has been consistently recovered as monophyletic in phylogenetic analyses. Notable genera include Heliothrips, Caliothrips, Selenothrips, and Hercinothrips, with species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Parthenothrips
Parthenothrips is a monotypic genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, subfamily Panchaetothripinae. The sole described species, P. dracaenae, was described by Uzel in 1895. The genus has been recorded from Scandinavia.
Salpingothrips
Salpingothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, established by Hood in 1935. The genus contains at least three described species: S. aimotofus, S. hoodi, and S. minimus. These thrips belong to the subfamily Thripinae, one of the largest and most diverse groups within the Thripidae. No observations of this genus have been recorded on iNaturalist, suggesting it may be poorly documented, rare, or understudied.
Scirtothrips
leaf-feeding thrips, citrus thrips, chilli thrips
Scirtothrips is a genus of leaf-feeding thrips in the family Thripidae, established by Shull in 1909. The genus includes economically significant pest species such as the chilli thrips (S. dorsalis), citrus thrips (S. citri), and South African citrus thrips (S. aurantii), which damage agricultural crops through piercing-sucking feeding on tender leaves, buds, and fruit. Species exhibit diverse host associations ranging from highly host-specific forms on endemic Australian Acacia to broadly polyphagous invasive pests. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with Labiothrips synonymised under Scirtothrips.
Scirtothrips dorsalis
chilli thrips, yellow tea thrips, castor thrips, Assam thrips, strawberry thrips
Scirtothrips dorsalis is a highly invasive thrips species native to South or Southeast Asia that has achieved global distribution over the past two decades. It is a significant agricultural pest with an exceptionally broad host range spanning vegetables, ornamentals, and fruit crops. The species is characterized by rapid population growth, with development from egg to adult completed in approximately two weeks under optimal conditions. Its feeding causes distinctive damage including leaf curling, brown scarring along leaf veins, and bronzing to blackening of fruits and flowers. The species has been implicated in transmission of tospoviruses, though its efficiency as a vector remains debated. Genetic evidence indicates S. dorsalis represents a species complex of morphologically similar but genetically distinct lineages.
Selenothrips
red-banded thrips (for S. rubrocinctus)
Selenothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Thripidae, established by Heinrich Hugo Karny in 1911. The genus contains at least two described species: S. rubrocinctus (Giard, 1901), commonly known as the red-banded thrips or cacao thrips, and S. glabratus Priesner, 1927. S. rubrocinctus is a polyphagous pest with broad tropical and subtropical distribution, known to attack cacao, cashew, mango, avocado, and other crops. Research on this species has focused on its feeding behavior in relation to plant water-stress and amino acid availability.
Selenothrips rubrocinctus
redbanded thrips, cacao thrips, red-banded thrips
Selenothrips rubrocinctus is a small thrips species known as the redbanded thrips, recognized by the distinctive red banding on its dark body. It is a polyphagous pest with a near pan-tropical distribution, first described from the West Indies though possibly originating in northern South America. The species is economically significant as a pest of cacao, mango, cashew, and various ornamental trees, causing leaf silvering, distortion, and fruit damage through sap-feeding. Populations exhibit seasonal dynamics tied to host plant water stress and nutritional status, with peaks typically occurring during dry seasons.
Sericothripinae
Sericothripinae is a largely tropical subfamily of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) comprising approximately 140 species. Members are often strikingly bicoloured with complex surface sculpture. Currently only three genera are recognised: Sericothrips (introduced to Australia, with one European species used as weed biological control agent), Hydatothrips (43 species worldwide, including species associated with native vines), and Neohydatothrips (96 species worldwide). The biology of this group is poorly known.
Thripidae
Common Thrips
Thripidae is the most species-rich family of thrips, comprising over 290 genera and approximately 2,000 species. Members are characterized by derived morphological traits including a downward-curving saw-like ovipositor, narrow wings with two longitudinal veins, and antennae bearing six to ten antennomeres with stiletto-like forked sense cones on segments III and IV. The family is divided into four subfamilies: Thripinae (227 genera), Panchaetothripinae (38 genera), Dendrothripinae (16 genera), and Sericothripinae (11 genera). Many species are economically significant agricultural pests, with some exhibiting invasive characteristics.
Thrips
thrips
Thrips is a genus of minute insects in the order Thysanoptera, characterized by fringed wings and asymmetrical mouthparts. Members are typically 1 mm or less in length with slender, cigar-shaped bodies. The genus was established by Linnaeus in 1758 and is among the most economically significant thrips genera, containing species that are serious agricultural pests. Species-level identification is challenging due to morphological variability and reliance on slide-mounted specimens.
Thrips tabaci
onion thrips, potato thrips, tobacco thrips, cotton seedling thrips, tomato thrips
Thrips tabaci is a minute agricultural pest thrips species known by multiple common names reflecting its broad host range. Adults measure 1–1.3 mm and exhibit highly female-biased sex ratios in many populations, with reproduction primarily by parthenogenesis. The species causes direct damage through rasping-sucking feeding and serves as a vector for multiple plant viruses including tomato spotted wilt virus and iris yellow spot virus. It is considered the most serious insect pest of onion crops in tropical regions and has achieved global distribution.