Thrips
There are 6,000 thrips species worldwide, 1,016 of which are present in Australia.
These minute insects can be troublesome pests, damaging crops, especially flowers and fruit.
Appearance
Adults are generally small with slender bodies, large compound eyes, and short, thread-like antennae. Winged adults have three ocelli and two pairs of wings fringed at the margins. Their legs are stout with adhesive structures, and they lack cerci. The mouthparts are modified for rasping-sucking; it forms a come with stylets for piercing and rasping the plant surface cells to extract plant juices. The nymphs resemble the adults.
Biology and Bahaviour
Thrips mostly feed on plant juices, often attacking flowers and leaves. Some species live in leaf litter, feeding on fungi, while a few are predatory or induce gall formation on host plants. They can fly well, but long-distance movement relies on wind conditions. Reproduction is mainly sexual, but parthenogenesis is common. Eggs are laid on or in plant material, and nymphs go through non-feeding stages resembling resting pupae with developing wing pads.
Pest Status
Thrips frequently inflict substantial harm to fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops, primarily targeting floral parts and fruit. Some species also act as vectors of plant disease. Occasionally, thrips infestations are transported into urban areas and suburban regions by the wind, posing concerns for homes and gardens.