Order
Thysanoptera
Identification
0.5 mm to 15 mm, but most species are less than 5 mm long. They have a cigar-shaped body, a square or rectangular head, rasping-sucking mouthparts that are uniquely asymmetric, and fringe- or tassel-like wings.
Behaviour
Many thrips species feed on leaves and some feed on flowers, but only a few feed on both. Almost 50% of thrips feed on fungi, and only a few are known to feed on arthropods.
Thrips as pests
They are pests of many ornamental plants and agricultural crops. They cause damage to plants through their rasping/sucking mouthparts used to feed on plant sap.
A few thrips species, however, are beneficial predators since they feed on other insects and mites.