Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)

Thrips (Thysanoptera) were collected from inside the flowers at two different sites in 2015. These insects are known to be abundant inside flowers, feeding on both pollen and nectar (Willmer 2011). Thrips have traditionally been considered pollen destroyers because they suck the contents out of individual grains, but research in the last twenty-five years has shown that they can be pollinators of certain plants, including some Ericaceae (Willmer 2011).

thrips

Thrips (Order Thysanoptera). Seven individual thrips were collected from V. globulare flowers at 2 sites in 2015. Photo: entnemdept.ufl.edu.