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Flower Thrips

Thripidae

Flower Thrips, photo © by Mike Plagens

It was a cool morning and these thrips appeared to warming themselves in the sunshine. These thrips were feeding on pollen of Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) in Glendale, Arizona, USA. April 2013.

Thysanoptera -- Thrips Order

Close examination of many, if not most, open flowers will reveal many minute golden yellow insects. Thrips have narrow, nearly transparent wings and are cigar-shaped. They feed principally on pollen and the softer tissues in the flower bud. Occasionally thrips can be abundant enough to cause feeding damage to leaves and buds of mostly cultivated plants.

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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 16 April 2013.

 

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