South American Locust vs Grain Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Locust | Grain Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Schistocerca cancellata | Limothrips cerealium |
| Order | Orthoptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Acrididae | Thripidae |
| Size | 45-65 mm | 1.2-1.8 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
South American Locust
A major swarming locust of South America closely related to the desert locust. It periodically forms devastating swarms across Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Did You Know?
After decades of suppression, this species made an unexpected resurgence in Argentina in 2015, forming swarms not seen since the 1950s.
Grain Thrips
A widespread pest of cereal crops including wheat, barley, and oats. Adults are dark brown and migrate in swarms during warm summer days.
Did You Know?
On hot summer days, grain thrips swarm in enormous numbers and are colloquially known as "thunder bugs" because they seem to appear before storms.