Acacia Thrips vs Tunnel Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Acacia Thrips Tunnel Beetle
Scientific Name Kladothrips waterhousei Lymexylon navale
Order Thysanoptera Coleoptera
Family Phlaeothripidae Lymexylidae
Size 1.5-2.5 mm 7-16mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Gall Makers Wood Feeders
Regions Oceania Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Acacia Thrips

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Tunnel Beetle

A slender cylindrical beetle whose larvae bore straight tunnels through oak timber. Historically damaged ship timber.

💡

Did You Know?

Was a major pest of oak shipbuilding timber, boring tunnels that weakened the hulls of wooden warships.