Australian Gall Thrips vs Woolly Hackberry Aphid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Gall Thrips Woolly Hackberry Aphid
Scientific Name Kladothrips intermedius Shivaphis celti
Order Thysanoptera Hemiptera
Family Phlaeothripidae Aphididae
Size 1-3 mm 1-2 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Gall Makers Predators
Regions Australia East Asia, introduced to North America
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.

Woolly Hackberry Aphid

A waxy-white social aphid that feeds on hackberry trees and is notable for its cooperative colony defense. Large groups coordinate to kick and push predators off leaf surfaces.

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Did You Know?

They produce copious white waxy filaments that can accumulate like snow under heavily infested hackberry trees.