Thrips are short, slender insects with sucking mouthparts. Most species feed on plants and are serious pests. They stunt plant growth and spread disease. A few species prey on other thrips and various other small insects. Adult thrips are usually less than 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) long. They have two pairs of narrow, fringed wings. Some thrips are wingless.
Most thrips reproduce by laying eggs, but some bear live young. One species, known as Elaphrothrips tuberculatus, is the only known animal that can reproduce in both ways. Some females of this species can lay eggs or bear live young. The live young are always males, and the eggs always hatch into females.
