So it has been working out that I have been going out to the grasslands in the afternoons. When the wind is blowing the hardest. Well, a little wind won’t stop me. FYI, these photos were taken on windy Tuesday. Today would have been great with little wind, but alas I other things to do.
Somehow a Four-nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa) got stuck.
A nearby Four-nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa) was covered with thrips. A fun fact; whether one or lots of thrips is still the same word thrips with an “s”.
Then I sat and watched. They seemed to be eating pollen.
Furthermore pollen was sticking to the hairs at the rear! Once I got home I decided a likely candidate was the species Aeolothrips fasciatus. They match the color pattern but in one of my books it said you really need to look further. Well, not today for me. Interesting enough Aeolothrips fasciatus is a predatory thrips. So additionally if this is the correct species they also feed on spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and plant-feeding thrips. FYI immature thrips look similar but don’t have wings.
Aeolo is Greek for quick-moving or shifting. Some thrips are considered beneficial and others pests. However that is all from a human point of view. 🙂
At least some if not all native Americans believe that for every ailment there is a natural cure.
I wonder what that pollen tastes like? Certainly looks yummy.
Beautiful Milky Way images from all over.
Thrips as singular! I didn’t know.