Wooly Darkling Beetle vs Chilli Thrips
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wooly Darkling Beetle | Chilli Thrips |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eleodes osculans | Scirtothrips dorsalis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Thysanoptera |
| Family | Tenebrionidae | Thripidae |
| Size | 20-35 mm | 0.8-1.2 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Gardens |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America | Asia, North America, Central America, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Wooly Darkling Beetle
A stout black beetle common in southwestern US deserts. It raises its abdomen in a defensive headstand posture when disturbed.
Did You Know?
It sprays a foul-smelling quinone chemical from its rear end, earning it the nickname stink beetle.
Chilli Thrips
A tiny pale yellow thrips that is an invasive pest of peppers, strawberries, and ornamental plants. It causes severe scarring and distortion of new growth.
Did You Know?
Chilli thrips are so tiny that they can pass through standard window screens, making them very difficult to exclude from greenhouses.