Thripidae are the largest family within the order Thysanoptera, encompassing most of the species commonly recognized as thrips. These insects are minute, usually less than 2 mm long, with elongated bodies and distinctive fringed wings. They use asymmetrical mouthparts to pierce and suck juices from plants, often damaging leaves, flowers, and fruits. Some Thripidae species also transmit viral diseases, making them major pests in agriculture and horticulture globally.
- Tiny, slender insects (typically <2 mm) with fringed wings.
- Asymmetrical mouthparts for piercing and sucking plant fluids.
- Cause direct damage and can transmit plant viruses.
- Major pests in many crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Thrips are classified in the order Thysanoptera.
Source Material
Author: University of Florida IFAS
Document: Thrips: The Thrill and Threat of Thrips
Date Published: 2024
Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
The Western flower thrips is a highly destructive species that feeds on a wide range of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals. It damages plants by extracting cell contents and causes scarring, discoloration, and deformities. This species is also a notorious vector of tospoviruses, which further devastate crops. Native to North America, it has spread globally through trade.
- Scientific name: Frankliniella occidentalis
- Affects: flowers, fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants
- Damage: feeding scars, silvering of leaves, flower deformities
- Disease vector: transmits tospoviruses (e.g., Tomato spotted wilt virus)
- Native to North America; now cosmopolitan
Western flower thrips are important vectors of tospoviruses.
Source Material
Author: American Phytopathological Society
Document: Western Flower Thrips
Date Published: 2023
Onion Thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Onion thrips are serious pests of alliums but can also infest a variety of other crops. They cause damage primarily through feeding, which results in silvering and deformity of leaves, reducing photosynthetic ability and yield. Like some other thrips, they can transmit plant viruses, including leek yellow stripe virus.
- Scientific name: Thrips tabaci
- Primary hosts: onions, garlic, leeks; also tobacco, cotton, and others
- Damage: silvering, streaking, and distortion of leaves
- Virus vector: transmits some plant viruses
- Known for rapid reproduction and high infestations
Onion thrips primarily affect allium crops such as onions and garlic.
Tomato Thrips (Frankliniella schultzei)
Tomato thrips, also known as the common blossom thrips, are important pests of tomatoes and many other vegetables and ornamentals. They feed on young tissues, causing bronzing, distortion, and premature drop of leaves and flowers. They can also transmit tospoviruses, affecting crop quality and yield.
- Scientific name: Frankliniella schultzei
- Hosts: tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and various ornamentals
- Damage: bronzing, silvering, and deformation of foliage and fruit
- Can transmit some tospoviruses (less common than F. occidentalis)
- Found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions
Tomato thrips cause surface scarring on fruit.
Source Material
Author: Cornell University Vegetable MD Online
Document: Tomato Thrips and Their Management
Date Published: 2021
Melon Thrips (Thrips palmi)
Melon thrips are aggressive feeders and one of the most destructive thrips species on cucurbits, melons, and other vegetable crops. Their feeding causes severe bronzing and distortion of leaves and fruits, leading to major yield losses. They are also vectors of tospoviruses and have spread from Asia to other parts of the world.
- Scientific name: Thrips palmi
- Major hosts: melons, cucumbers, squash, eggplants, and peppers
- Damage: severe bronzing, distortion, reduced fruit quality
- Vector for tospoviruses
- Primarily tropical and subtropical distribution; invasive in some regions
Melon thrips are primarily a problem in Asia and tropical regions.
Source Material
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Document: Melon Thrips (*Thrips palmi*)
Date Published: 2023
Conclusion
Thrips of the family Thripidae are tiny but highly impactful insects in agriculture. Their ability to damage a wide range of crops through feeding and virus transmission makes them a major concern worldwide. Understanding the biology and identifying key species like Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci, and Thrips palmi is crucial for effective pest management.
- Thripidae thrips are minute, fringed-wing insects that feed on and damage plants.
- Key pest species include Western flower thrips, onion thrips, tomato thrips, and melon thrips.
- They cause damage by feeding and can also transmit damaging plant viruses.
*Thripidae* thrips have fringed wings and pierce-suck mouthparts.
The Western flower thrips is *Frankliniella occidentalis*.
Onion thrips affect onions, garlic, and some other crops like tobacco.