Pear Thrips vs Winter Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pear Thrips Winter Moth
Scientific Name Taeniothrips inconsequens Operophtera brumata
Order Thysanoptera Lepidoptera
Family Thripidae Geometridae
Size 1.2-1.5 mm 25-30 mm wingspan (males)
Habitat Orchards Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America, Europe Europe, Eastern North America
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.

Winter Moth

A cold-hardy moth whose tiny green inchworm caterpillars defoliate fruit and shade trees in early spring. Females are virtually wingless and crawl up tree trunks to lay eggs.

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Did You Know?

Sticky bands wrapped around tree trunks in autumn can trap the wingless females and prevent egg-laying.