These tiny, fringed insects use bladder-like feet to walk on vertical surfaces with ease.

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Thrips are minute insects, often just 1.5 to 3 mm long, known for their fringed wings and unique bladder-like foot structures. While some species are destructive pests that transmit plant viruses, others act as pollinators or predators of mites, playing a complex role in global ecosystems.

Thrips belong to the order Thysanoptera, a name derived from the Latin for 'fringed wings.' With approximately 5,000 species distributed globally, these insects are among the smallest winged creatures. Their size typically ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm, though extremes exist from 0.6 mm to 15 mm. Despite their diminutive stature, they are often elaborately decorated with spines or hexagonal designs. A defining anatomical feature is the extensible bladder on their tarsi, which allows them to navigate vertical surfaces, earning them the nickname 'bladder feet.'

The life cycle of a thrips is biologically unusual. While they are classified among insects that undergo simple metamorphosis, they possess pupal stages similar to those found in insects with complete metamorphosis. Depending on the species, there may be one to three pupal stages where no feeding occurs. Reproduction is primarily bisexual, though parthenogenesis—reproduction from unfertilized eggs—is known to occur. Eggs are proportionately large, often occupying multiple abdominal segments of the female before being laid.

Economically, thrips are significant because they can disfigure flowers, damage leaves, and transmit plant viruses. Feeding involves a specialized 'rasping-sucking' process where the left mandible cuts into plant tissue, allowing the insect to inject saliva and pump out semi-digested contents. This often leaves behind silvery or bronze scarring on foliage. While many species are pests, some are beneficial; they may prey on destructive mites or scale insects, and several species contribute to the pollination of flowers, highlighting their diverse ecological impact.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• These tiny soil-dwellers are the only arthropods that breathe through their heads
• The twisted-wing insects that hijack their hosts from the inside out
• Why these sap-sucking insects are known as leaf-footed bugs and twig-wilters
• The tiny insect that evolved a functioning mechanical gear to master the jump
• These tiny, eyeless soil dwellers are the most foot-sparse creatures in their entire subphylum.
• Ground-feeding songbirds that plant forests with their guts
• Nearly every male Thoroughbred descends from one Arabian stallion imported in 1704
• Medieval knights carried thyme for courage and sleepers hid it under pillows
• Why the academic thesis is a centuries-old tradition of challenging the status quo
• Why do some people experience sudden, uncontrollable movements or sounds known as tics?
• Beast-footed dinosaurs that still rule as birds
• Blood-feeding mites tough enough for Antarctic penguins

More in Organisms · More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics