Tobacco Thrips vs Central American Locust

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tobacco Thrips Central American Locust
Scientific Name Frankliniella fusca Schistocerca piceifrons
Order Thysanoptera Orthoptera
Family Thripidae Acrididae
Size 1-1.5 mm 45-65 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Pollen Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Central American Locust

A significant agricultural pest locust in Mexico and Central America. It periodically swarms and can devastate corn, bean, and other staple crops.

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Did You Know?

The ancient Maya recorded plagues of this locust, and it remains a recurring agricultural threat in the Yucatan Peninsula today.