Lesser Leaf-Cutter Ant vs Grain Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lesser Leaf-Cutter Ant | Grain Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Acromyrmex octospinosus | Limothrips cerealium |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Formicidae | Thripidae |
| Size | 2-10 mm | 1.2-1.8 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Central America, Caribbean, northern South America, Brazil | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lesser Leaf-Cutter Ant
A smaller leaf-cutter ant species covered in spiny tubercles on its body. It forms more modest colonies than Atta but is equally dependent on fungal agriculture.
Did You Know?
Workers produce antibiotic compounds from bacteria on their bodies to protect their fungal gardens from parasitic molds.
Grain Thrips
A widespread pest of cereal crops including wheat, barley, and oats. Adults are dark brown and migrate in swarms during warm summer days.
Did You Know?
On hot summer days, grain thrips swarm in enormous numbers and are colloquially known as "thunder bugs" because they seem to appear before storms.