Tobacco Thrips vs Onion Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tobacco Thrips Onion Thrips
Scientific Name Frankliniella fusca Thrips tabaci
Order Thysanoptera Thysanoptera
Family Thripidae Thripidae
Size 1-1.5 mm 1-1.3 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Pollen Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania
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.

Onion Thrips

A cosmopolitan pest of onions, garlic, and many other crops. It can reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically and transmits iris yellow spot virus.

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Did You Know?

Onion thrips can reproduce without mating through parthenogenesis, allowing a single female to establish an entire infestation.