Acacia Thrips vs Australian Gall Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Acacia Thrips Australian Gall Thrips
Scientific Name Kladothrips waterhousei Kladothrips intermedius
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Phlaeothripidae Phlaeothripidae
Size 1.5-2.5 mm 1-3 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Gall Makers Gall Makers
Regions Oceania Australia
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Acacia Thrips

An Australian gall-inducing thrips that creates enclosed galls on Acacia phyllodes. It exhibits a soldier caste that defends the gall.

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Did You Know?

This thrips has evolved a soldier caste with enlarged forelegs, making it one of the few eusocial insect lineages outside Hymenoptera.

Australian Gall Thrips

A eusocial thrips from Australia that induces galls on Acacia trees and defends them with a soldier caste. They are among the only thrips species to show true eusociality.

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Did You Know?

Their soldiers have enlarged forelegs used to crush and kill kleptoparasitic thrips that try to invade their galls.