Predatory Thrips: Tiny Allies Against Their Plant-Feeding Cousins

Thrips are infamous as crop pests, but several species—banded thrips, black hunter thrips, six-spotted thrips, and Franklinothrips—are predatory, feeding on pest thrips, spider mites, whiteflies, lace bugs, and scale insects. At 0.5–3 mm, they are nearly invisible but can be decisive in suppressing outbreaks.

Identification Challenges

Predatory and pest thrips look similar; magnification is needed. Banded thrips are black with white bands; black hunters are dark with white wings; six-spotted thrips have six distinct spots; Franklinothrips are mostly on avocados. Focus on behavior: predatory thrips move quickly and actively hunt, while pest thrips cluster on leaves and flowers.

Encouraging Predatory Thrips

Eliminate broad-spectrum insecticides—they kill both types. Use targeted controls (horticultural soap, water sprays) only on heavily infested plants, accepting that some predators will be lost. Maintain diverse vegetation and avoid sterile monocultures. Predatory thrips thrive where pest populations are present but not eradicated, providing a self-regulating balance.

These microscopic hunters are a perfect example of why “clean” gardens often have more pest problems than biodiverse ones.