Pennsylvania Ambush Bug vs Melon Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Pennsylvania Ambush Bug | Melon Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phymata pennsylvanica | Thrips palmi |
| Order | Hemiptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Reduviidae | Thripidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 1.0-1.3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Herbivores |
| Regions | Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states | Asia, Oceania, North America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Pennsylvania Ambush Bug
A small chunky yellow and brown bug with thickened raptorial forelegs that hides in flower heads to ambush pollinators. It can capture prey many times its own size.
Did You Know?
It can capture and kill bumble bees and butterflies that are more than ten times its own weight.
Melon Thrips
A pale yellow thrips and serious pest of cucurbits and solanaceous crops. It is a quarantine pest in many countries.
Did You Know?
Melon thrips is listed as a quarantine pest in the European Union due to its destructive potential.