Recycler Thrips

[Woody Meristem]

A number of species of thrips are pests of agricultural or ornamental plants, but many others recycle dead plant material or feed on fungi. Here's a species of recycler thrips (young and adult) that lives beneath the bark of dead trees -- I haven't determined the species as yet. The insects are no more than one millimeter long.

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[TomMills23]

Very cool. I've never seen these, and I look for insects to photograph quite a bit. Will have to Google these and check them out on iNaturalist to learn more! Nice shot Woody. P.S., just noticed and briefly visited your forestandfield blog. Very nice.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Those are the first of that species I've ever seen -- they were beneath the bark of a dead apple tree and so small I couldn't even tell they were insects until I focused the macro lens. The little buggers were tightly clustered together when I raised the bark but quickly dispersed -- they're really fast for something so small (actually a bit less than 1 mm long). Had to take the photo hand-held -- unfortunately.

 

[TomMills23]

Those are the first of that species I've ever seen -- they were beneath the bark of a dead apple tree and so small I couldn't even tell they were insects until I focused the macro lens. The little buggers were tightly clustered together when I raised the bark but quickly dispersed -- they're really fast for something so small (actually a bit less than 1 mm long). Had to take the photo hand-held -- unfortunately.

Thanks Woody. I’ll keep an eye out for these guys!