Thrips, SEM
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Thrips, SEM
Thrips. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a thrips, or thunder fly (order Thysanoptera), feeding inside a grass seed head. Thrips are small, sap feeding flies that are characterised by the fringes of long hairs on their wings (upper left). Thrips feed on sap by piercing plant cells with their paired maxillary stylets (seen below the first pair of legs at upper right), which form a feeding tube. A compound eye (brown) and a pair of short antennae are also seen. Thrips are pests of commercial crops due to the damage caused by feeding on developing flowers or vegetables. This causes discolouration and deformities, reducing the quality of the crop. They are also considered the primary vector of plant diseases and viruses
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Media ID 6461026
© STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Antenna Antennae Compound Eye Disease Vector False Colour Feeding Grass Insecta Legs Mouth Part Parasite Parasitic Pest Seed Head Sucking Thorax Transmitter Wing Wings False Coloured Fringed Thrip Thrips Thunderbug Thysanoptera
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the intricate world of thrips, also known as thunder flies. In this coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM), we are granted a close-up view of a thrips feeding inside a grass seed head. These small sap-feeding flies possess unique characteristics, such as fringes of long hairs on their wings, which can be observed in the upper left corner. Thrips feed on plant sap by piercing plant cells using their paired maxillary stylets, forming a feeding tube visible below the first pair of legs at the upper right. The image also reveals a compound eye in brown and a pair of short antennae. While these creatures may seem harmless at first glance, they pose significant threats to commercial crops due to the damage caused by their feeding habits. Feeding on developing flowers or vegetables leads to discolouration and deformities that reduce crop quality. Furthermore, thrips are considered primary vectors for plant diseases and viruses. This SEM photograph not only highlights the beauty within nature's smallest creatures but also serves as an important reminder of how delicate ecosystems can be disrupted by seemingly insignificant organisms. With its false-coloured details and stunning clarity provided by scanning electron microscopy, this print from Science Photo Library offers us an extraordinary glimpse into the world of these fascinating yet troublesome insects.
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