Thysanoptera (weed bioagents)

insects • weed bioagents • Beneficials/natural enemies

Sericothrips staphylinus damage on Ulex europaeus (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): George Markin, USDA Forest Service
Source: IPM Images

Thysanoptera (weed bioagents)

The order of Thysanoptera includes small, slender and flat insects. The wings are very narrow with greatly reduced venation and fringed with long hairs. They are usually 1-2 mm long. The metamorphosis includes 1 or 2 inactive pupal instars.

Many species are important pests of crops as well as vectors of plant diseases. However, some species are beneficial biological control agents and natural enemies of weeds. This page deals with the latter group.

Note:
This page refers to biological control agents of weeds only, for other groups of Thysanoptera see

• Thysanoptera (plant pests)
• Thysanoptera (predators)

The following genera and individual species are currently entered under Thysanoptera (weed bioagents):

• Pseudophilothrips ichini (weed bioagent)
• Sericothrips staphylinus (weed bioagent)