Lackey Moth vs Onion Thrips

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lackey Moth Onion Thrips
Scientific Name Malacosoma neustria Thrips tabaci
Order Lepidoptera Thysanoptera
Family Lasiocampidae Thripidae
Size Wingspan 30-40mm 1-1.3 mm
Habitat Orchards Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Lackey Moth

A pale tawny moth whose colorful striped caterpillars spin communal silk tents on trees.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars live together in conspicuous silk tents on trees and march out in processions to feed.

Onion Thrips

A cosmopolitan pest of onions, garlic, and many other crops. It can reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically and transmits iris yellow spot virus.

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Did You Know?

Onion thrips can reproduce without mating through parthenogenesis, allowing a single female to establish an entire infestation.