Chilli Thrips vs Letiranti's Leaf Insect

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Chilli Thrips Letiranti's Leaf Insect
Scientific Name Scirtothrips dorsalis Phyllium letiranti
Order Thysanoptera Phasmatodea
Family Thripidae Phylliidae
Size 0.8-1.2 mm 6-8 cm
Habitat Gardens Forests
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Asia, North America, Central America, Oceania Indonesia (Maluku Islands)
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Chilli Thrips

A tiny pale yellow thrips that is an invasive pest of peppers, strawberries, and ornamental plants. It causes severe scarring and distortion of new growth.

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Did You Know?

Chilli thrips are so tiny that they can pass through standard window screens, making them very difficult to exclude from greenhouses.

Letiranti's Leaf Insect

A leaf insect found in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. It has subtly serrated leaf margins on its abdominal lobes.

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Did You Know?

The Maluku Islands are home to several endemic leaf insect species found nowhere else on Earth.