Tobacco Thrips vs Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tobacco Thrips | Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Frankliniella fusca | Microplitis demolitor |
| Order | Thysanoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Thripidae | Braconidae |
| Size | 1-1.5 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | North America | North America, South 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.
Did You Know?
Tobacco thrips can overwinter in soil and leaf litter, emerging in spring to attack new seedlings before natural predators become active.
Tobacco Caterpillar Braconid
A small endoparasitoid wasp that injects polydnavirus along with its eggs into caterpillar hosts. It is an important natural enemy of soybean looper and corn earworm.
Did You Know?
It injects a symbiotic virus along with its eggs that suppresses the caterpillar's immune system.