The thrips are tiny insects, rarely more than 1/8-inch long, with or without wings. If they do have wings the margins are complete with long hairs or a 'fringe'. Thysanopterans have rasping-sucking mouthparts, which they use to rasp the surface of leaves and suck up the juice as it oozes. Metamorphosis is complex in thrips and can be described as between complete and incomplete.
Thrips commonly are found on many plants, including gladiolas, sunflowers, onions, and greenhouse crops where they cause injury. A common species that annoys people lives on small grains and grasses and is called the "oats bug".
