Pear Thrips vs Desert Praying Mantis

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pear Thrips Desert Praying Mantis
Scientific Name Taeniothrips inconsequens Stagmomantis limbata
Order Thysanoptera Mantodea
Family Thripidae Mantidae
Size 1.2-1.5 mm 50-75 mm
Habitat Orchards Deserts & Drylands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America, Europe North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

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.

Desert Praying Mantis

A medium-sized mantis common in desert and arid scrub habitats of western North America. Its coloring varies from green to brown depending on the local vegetation.

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Did You Know?

Females are significantly larger than males and are known to cannibalize them during mating.