Pear Thrips vs Australian Gall Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pear Thrips Australian Gall Thrips
Scientific Name Taeniothrips inconsequens Kladothrips intermedius
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Thripidae Phlaeothripidae
Size 1.2-1.5 mm 1-3 mm
Habitat Orchards Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Gall Makers
Regions North America, Europe Australia
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

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.

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.