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19-NOV-2006

Thrips Adult between Butterfly Eggs

Two Blue Morpho Butterfly eggs with a diameter of about 0.120" (3.05mm) or about the size of a butterfly eye.
I thought there was a speck of dirt among them. After seeing movement, a closer look
revealed an insect called a "thrips", estimated at only about 0.060" long (1.525mm).

Description of "Thrips" (word used for both singular and plural.)

There are about 5000 described species of thrips (insects Order Thysanoptera). Most feed on fungi and live in leaf litter or on dead wood. The
species that feed on higher plants occur mostly in the Family Thripidae. This family includes the important pest species. Some reproduce in
flowers and feed on the cells of the flower tissues, on pollen grains and on small developing fruits. Many of the flower-living species are
facultative predators. Other species primarily feed on leaves. Some species are obligate predators on small insects and other arthropods.
Some of the most common pest species feed on a wide range of plants and even prey on mites.

Adults emerge milky-white, but soon turn brown and begin feeding. The female is approximately 1.65 mm (.065")long and slightly larger than the
male. The antennae are dark brown except for the 3rd segment which is light brown. The wings have a light tranverse band near the base. The egg
is about 0.3 mm (.011")long, opaque white, smooth, and bean-shaped. Eggs are deposited in the leaf tissue and corms. The two larval stages are
light yellow and are usually found beneath the leaves or bracts. The fully developed second instar larva is about the size of the adult. The first pupal
stage is distinguished from the second pupal stage by having forward projecting antennae and short wing pads. The 2nd pupal stage, which is a
quiescent period, has the antennae folded over the back and much longer wing pads.

Lots if info on the web but here is one source: http://thrips.ifas.ufl.edu/thripsweb/thripsbiology.htm

3d6330_ 68.JPG

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30 ,Nikon 6T+5T+Raynox 2.5 (total diop=12+)
1/40s f/10.0 at 88.8mm iso80 full exif

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