Caddisfly vs Pear Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Caddisfly Pear Thrips
Scientific Name Limnephilus rhombicus Taeniothrips inconsequens
Order Trichoptera Thysanoptera
Family Limnephilidae Thripidae
Size 10-15 mm body 1.2-1.5 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Orchards
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, North America North America, Europe
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Caddisfly

Moth-like adults with hairy wings held tent-like over the body. Aquatic larvae are famous architects that build portable cases from silk, pebbles, sand, leaves, and shells.

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Did You Know?

Artist Hubert Duprat gave caddisfly larvae gold flakes, pearls, and precious stones — the larvae incorporated them into their cases, creating tiny jeweled sculptures.

Pear Thrips

A dark brown thrips that damages pear and cherry blossoms in spring. Adults emerge from the soil to feed on opening buds.

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Did You Know?

In the 1980s pear thrips caused widespread damage to sugar maple forests in the northeastern United States.