Poinsettia Thrips vs Banded-wing Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Poinsettia Thrips Banded-wing Thrips
Scientific Name Echinothrips americanus Aeolothrips fasciatus
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Thripidae Aeolothripidae
Size 1.3-1.7 mm 1.5-2.0 mm
Habitat Gardens Farmland
Diet Herbivores Predators
Regions North America, Europe North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Not Evaluated

Poinsettia Thrips

A dark brown thrips originally from eastern North America now invasive in European greenhouses. It feeds on a wide range of ornamental plants.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike most thrips, this species completes its entire life cycle on the leaf surface and never enters the soil.

Banded-wing Thrips

A predatory thrips with dark-banded wings commonly found on crop plants. It preys on pest thrips, mites, and small insects.

💡

Did You Know?

Banded-wing thrips are among the most important natural enemies of pest thrips in North American alfalfa fields.