Western Flower Thrips vs Arctic Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Flower Thrips | Arctic Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Frankliniella occidentalis | Aptinothrips rufus |
| Order | Thysanoptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Thripidae | Thripidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | 0.5-1.5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Arctic and subarctic worldwide, Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, northern Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Western Flower Thrips
One of the most economically damaging insects in horticulture. Transmits tomato spotted wilt virus. Despite being tiny, causes billions in crop damage annually worldwide.
Did You Know?
Thrips are among the smallest flying insects — some species are just 0.5 mm long, yet they can be carried by winds to altitudes of over 3,000 meters.
Arctic Thrips
A tiny, wingless thrips that feeds on grasses in Arctic and subarctic habitats. Its brown body is barely visible without magnification. Populations reproduce parthenogenetically in the Arctic where males are absent.
Did You Know?
This thrips can reproduce without males through parthenogenesis, a useful adaptation in Arctic habitats where finding a mate would be difficult.