Australian Gall Thrips vs Fighting Soldier Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Gall Thrips Fighting Soldier Thrips
Scientific Name Kladothrips intermedius Oncothrips tepperi
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Phlaeothripidae Phlaeothripidae
Size 1-3 mm 1.5-3 mm
Habitat Woodlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Gall Makers Gall Makers
Regions Australia Australia
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

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.

Fighting Soldier Thrips

A eusocial Australian thrips that forms colonies inside galls on Acacia trees with distinct reproductive and soldier castes. Soldiers patrol the gall and attack intruding insects.

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Did You Know?

They are one of only about a dozen thrips species worldwide known to have evolved true eusociality with a soldier caste.