Tobacco Thrips vs Australian Gall Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tobacco Thrips Australian Gall Thrips
Scientific Name Frankliniella fusca Kladothrips intermedius
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Thripidae Phlaeothripidae
Size 1-1.5 mm 1-3 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Pollen Feeders Gall Makers
Regions North America Australia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Tobacco Thrips

A major pest of tobacco, peanut, and cotton seedlings in the southeastern United States. It transmits tomato spotted wilt virus to multiple crop species.

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Did You Know?

Tobacco thrips can overwinter in soil and leaf litter, emerging in spring to attack new seedlings before natural predators become active.

Australian Gall Thrips

A eusocial thrips from Australia that induces galls on Acacia trees and defends them with a soldier caste. They are among the only thrips species to show true eusociality.

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Did You Know?

Their soldiers have enlarged forelegs used to crush and kill kleptoparasitic thrips that try to invade their galls.