If you have ever felt tiny but slightly painful bites from tiny orange insects while you are outside, you might have encountered an order of insects commonly known as Thrips (scientific name – Thysanoptera).
Thrips are really tiny insects that appear orange or yellow (some readers have even described them as tiny brown bugs that bite) to the naked eye.
Thrips are tiny. They measure between 0.5 mm (almost microscopic) to 14 mm (size of a typical board game dice) in length. Most North American thrips are 5 mm in length. To put that into context, 5 mm is half a centimeter or the size of a pencil top eraser.
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Thrips are mostly found outside the house. It is not uncommon to see these tiny orange bugs crawling on your skin when you are out for a walk in the summer. While they are not harmful, their bite can be a little sharp.
Over the years, we have been frequently asked questions around Thrips that we have answered below. You can scroll down for more Thrips’ images, our readers’ questions, and comments.
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Do these tiny orange bugs bite?
Yes, thrips are tiny biting bugs. Normally, they prefer to suck on flowers, but if they come in contact with humans, they can bite.
Their bite can cause Thysanoptera Dermatitis. While it sounds like a disease, thrips bites look and feel like mosquito bites and heal themselves naturally in a few days. They may cause itchy, pink-colored lesions, mostly on your hands and legs.
Can thrips spread disease?
Although thrips do not cause any known diseases in humans, they are carriers of several plant viruses of the Tospovirus, Carmovirus, Ilarvirus, Sobemovirus, and Machlomovirus genera.
Among these, Tospoviruses are the ones that can cause diseases such as capsicum chlorosis and scape blight of onion.
Are they harmful to humans or pets?
No, thrips are not harmful to either humans or pets.
Their bite can sting for a while, but topical lotions should be able to soothe you. You should wash the bite with soap and hot water to reduce the itchiness.
Having said that, we are not medical professionals and if you are dealing with an insect bite that is not getting better, it is best to seek professional medical attention.
Can thrips get in the house?
Yes, they can. While you are most likely to find these biting bugs in the grass or on outdoor plants, thrips can, on occasion, come inside and affect your indoor house plants too.
How to get rid of thrips?
To get rid of thrips, you can blast them with hot water to get them off your garden plants. If you find these tiny yellow bugs in your house or infesting your indoor plants, a soap water solution sprinkled on the leaves should be able to get them out. If that doesn’t work call a local pest company.
Where do thrips lay their eggs?
Thrips lay their eggs on the soft tissues of plants. This can include places like:
- Young leaves, leaf buds, and leaf stems
- Inside fruits and flowers
- Soft-wood stems
- Flower buds
Thrips can cause galls, a kind of bloated plant material sticking out of the infected plant. They can also lay their eggs in tiny wedges or nooks in the plant.
Another place that you will find these tiny yellow bugs leaving their eggs on is the underside of leaves.
One of the species (the Tubulifera sub-order) uses a special glue made of proteins and other compounds to attach their eggs to leaves.
This glue is very difficult to remove and helps protects the eggs from falling down during rain or when it is windy.
What are thrips attracted to?
The F. Instonsa thrips are attracted to the color white. But in general, thrips are attracted to blue, yellow, and then white-colored sticky traps. These traps are designed to collect thrips and keep them away from plants to protect crops.
References:
- Potter, M. F. (2021). Thrips. University of Kentucky Entomology. Retrieved from University of Kentucky Entomology
- Penn State Extension. (2020). Thrips: Plant pests. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from Penn State Extension
- Rebek, E. J., & Ludwig, S. (2016). Thrips: Biology and control. Oklahoma State University Extension. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from Oklahoma State University Extension.
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2022). Pest notes: Thrips. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from ipm.ucanr.edu
- Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. (2023). Thrips. Retrieved June 30, 2024, from Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
26 Comments.
I think this might be a Thrips, Thysanoptera.
Naturalisguy
Facebook: Naturalist Guy
http://www.NaturalistGuy.com
I think this might be a Thrips, Thysanoptera. Maybe something related or near to this group: the Phlaeothripidae?
http://bugguide.net/images/cache/LZNL3LUL0Z3Z8R0H6R3Z2RQH6RBL5RRH8RZHERSH6RLHPR1L5ROZIRELSRELKRZH8ROLPRHHSZBLSZTLLZTLKZRH6R.jpg
Naturalisguy
Facebook: Naturalist Guy
http://www.NaturalistGuy.com
Hi Maria,
it is a thrips of the family Phlaeothripidae.
The species is Compsothrips albosignatus O.M.REUTER, 1884. According to the shape of the front femurs I would say that it is a male.
This species is widespread in Southern Europe, Cyprus and in North Western Africa.
Nice photo!
Manfred
………………………….
http://www.thysanoptera.de
Thanks for the Thrips identification.
Yes these are the thrips larvae and boy do they hurt! They are attracted to light/bright colored clothing. I was attacked by these little boogers tonight at my son’s baseball game. I’m the team mom and was in charge of taking care of both team’s scores/runs/outs etc, and I was being attacked by them. Trying to swat these things and pay attention to the game was extremely difficult! LOL
It is almost 5am now, and I have been up all night trying to figure out what these things were.
In my research, I have found that:
1.) Peppermint/spearmint type of oils are a deterrent for these bugs. (At least it smells good!)
2.) Off or other sprays AREN’T effective and seem to attract them. (Stuff stinks anyway LOL)
3.) They are attracted to light/bright colored clothing (Great…I’m a girl and love light/bright colors)
4.) Often are found near weeds, bright colored flowers, and wood (Ughh)
5.) If they are near your home, they can get through your screens and invade your home. (ACKKK!!!)
6.) Lady Bugs don’t like them and kill/eat them (Lady Bugs are cool anyway!)
7.) Often found on the underside of leaves in your garden…and if found you can spray a heavy stream of your water hose for several straight minutes to get them off (drown them boogers!)
That’s what I’ve learned so far in the past 12 hours of research…other than the fact that I am tired!!!
Hope this helps!
Thanks for all the helpful information. It is easy to see how twelve hours of time can be consumed doing internet research, but if we did that with each request, we would only be able to post a few inquiries per week, so our editorial staff is very grateful for your dedication as well as your thoughtfulness in reporting your findings.
What I have been dealing with is after a rain if I go outside no matter what I wear I have been getting bit like crazy but not my husband,so I went out and let them bite me so that I could prove it to him.
I brought out a piece of tape with me and caught some to tape on white paper,I got a magnifying glass To prove I was getting ate up.
They were a tiny orange dot size bug and I could see they would crawl through my clothing to get to my skin to bite me,I shook my hair over the paper and they were even in my hair but they have never bitten my head….it is crazy…what is it,I threw the paper away ?….
Yes these are the thrips larvae and boy do they hurt! They are attracted to light/bright colored clothing. I was attacked by these little boogers tonight at my son’s baseball game. I’m the team mom and was in charge of taking care of both team’s scores/runs/outs etc, and I was being attacked by them. Trying to swat these things and pay attention to the game was extremely difficult! LOL
It is almost 5am now, and I have been up all night trying to figure out what these things were.
In my research, I have found that:
1.) Peppermint/spearmint type of oils are a deterrent for these bugs. (At least it smells good!)
2.) Off or other sprays AREN’T effective and seem to attract them. (Stuff stinks anyway LOL)
3.) They are attracted to light/bright colored clothing (Great…I’m a girl and love light/bright colors)
4.) Often are found near weeds, bright colored flowers, and wood (Ughh)
5.) If they are near your home, they can get through your screens and invade your home. (ACKKK!!!)
6.) Lady Bugs don’t like them and kill/eat them (Lady Bugs are cool anyway!)
7.) Often found on the underside of leaves in your garden…and if found you can spray a heavy stream of your water hose for several straight minutes to get them off (drown them boogers!)
That’s what I’ve learned so far in the past 12 hours of research…other than the fact that I am tired!!!
Hope this helps!
What I have been dealing with is after a rain if I go outside no matter what I wear I have been getting bit like crazy but not my husband,so I went out and let them bite me so that I could prove it to him.
I brought out a piece of tape with me and caught some to tape on white paper,I got a magnifying glass To prove I was getting ate up.
They were a tiny orange dot size bug and I could see they would crawl through my clothing to get to my skin to bite me,I shook my hair over the paper and they were even in my hair but they have never bitten my head….it is crazy…what is it,I threw the paper away ?….
No problem =) I know I was miserable, and figured someone else probably needed the same advice that I found. I’m a sufferer of insomnia so this just helped me pass the time till I got tired.
You helped me thankyou
Thank you so much for posting this information! These little buggers are all OVER the frame of our above ground pool. So so so so gross á(àČ çàČ )á I know ya’ll are anti-extermination but …I’d really rather these things go away!…or at least back to my plants! Why can’t they at least leave me the pool? (àČ _àČ )
We have a little baby pool, and the darn bugs had ran the kids out of it too! Since you have an above ground pool, maybe you could plant some peppermint around it to deter the bugs? Just a thought! Hope this helps Hon!
I haven’t heard of those working, but I do know that the Off sprays (and Deep Woods, can’t remember the names of the other ones I’ve tried) only attract them. (Learned that one the hard way! )
I’ve been googling my brains out ever since my mother suggested “mosquito grass”. She says it repels mosquitos. The info I’ve found says it gives off some kind of scent that the mosquitos hate. I’ve found Citronella, horsemint, marigolds, ageratum, catnip, basil and catmint. Supposedly, these are mosquito repelling plants. I still haven’t found anything actually called “mosquito grass”. I’m starting to think that might just be the general term for any type of grass that repels them. It won’t do anything for those little buggers crawling all over the pool… but I’ll throw in some peppermint plants for that! đ
Peppermint spray does work. I have been using EcoSmart. You can find it at Wal-Mart. It’s Awesome, cheap and deet free. It saved my summer. =)
Thank you guys for asking all the questions I had as well… I work at a facility and they are in the cracks of the wall & floor… they do die right away when killing them… I usually can get a lot of them when I mop up the floor… How do I get rid of them…
Have you found out what exactly they are? I think I have the same bug in my yard and they are driving me crazy and can’t figure out what they are!!!!!
I have a bite from what I think is from this Thrip bug. Got it yesterday, doesn’t itch but burns constantly. It continues to swell and benadryl hasn’t eased the site. Any suggestions for treatment from the bite? It’s red and warm to the touch, swolen, and again, continues to swell.
We are not qualified to dispense medical advice.
I’m not qualified to dispense medical info either, but I have many many tiny itchy bumps after a swarm of these things took over my yard. I must be sensitive more than most, bc the rash seems to develop over a couple of days. I *did* go to the doctor yesterday, and it’s not a definitive diagnosis, but I’m using a prednisone pack (Rx only – you’ll have to see a doctor) which is a big hit over 4 days, tapering off. It’s helped but hasn’t resolved after one dose. BUT if it’s just ONE bite, you also want a doctor, bc I had lyme disease from something like that earlier this summer. It was about 4 inch diameter, swollen, but around a pinprick sized bite đ Anyway, go to urgent care! (Benadryl wasn’t helping me either).
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I have had a tiny black bug in my house for 9mos. They are shaped like a pin prick and also shaped like an eel. They are in overstuffed furniture and beds etc. I haven’t been able to enjoy my house for all of these mos. I don’t see them outside, only outside, I have had two exterminations, countless cans of spray and I can’t touch them. I am desperate, any help will be appreciated.
I have had an allergic reaction to what I believe are these thrip… and the reaction moves throughout my body externally and yesterday felt internally…(I know sounds CRAZY trust me I know but have a picture to prove what had happened over my face) but my throat swelled up..was breathing through my nose..couldnât swallow..lost my voice.. after 6 hours and 3 Benadryl.. has anyone else experienced this? Is it only a certain age/sex of this bug that bites? And how on earth to you get rid of them?
I thought i was loosing my mind!! After reading through every one of these posts, im 100% sure this is the bug that is…. in my hair, biting my arms, legs, FACE, feet, inside my bra, and recently i have started getting bites beneath my underwear!!!!!! I MUST FIND A WAY TO GET THEM OFF!! NOW!! im jumping into a really hot shower in hopes of drowning or scorching every last one of them!!!!!!!!! thank yall for your research and sharing. I was hoping someone had an answer for how to get them off of your body IMMEDIATELY!!
I experience exactly the samething. I’m to the point feel like I’m going crazy, scratching all over my body, long welts all over. Can’t enjoy my place with the windows open for fresh air, cause they are getting in. Can’t sit still cuz they are biting & itching all over. It’s so frustrating that I want to burn my house down to burn these M.F.’s. Sorry no disrespect, that’s how they make me feel.. people think I’m crazy cuz they’re sitting right next to me & not feel anything. But when they see the welts & lesions developing all over face, arms, chest, back, legs, booty, yeah I said that even my derriere. right in front of their eyes. WOW… OMG..