Common thrip

<em>Echinothrips americanus</em>, the poinsettia thrip or common thrip, is a small insect in the order Thysanoptera, family Thripidae, native to North America but now established in Japan and at least 14 European countries as an invasive pest. It is Not Evaluated on the IUCN Red List. This species feeds on a wide range of ornamental and horticultural plants, causing characteristic silver-gray feeding scars on leaves and leading to distorted growth. It thrives in greenhouse environments and on tropical ornamentals including poinsettia, begonia, and various foliage plants. Populations can build rapidly under warm conditions and pose significant challenges for ornamental plant production. The species disperses through trade in infested plant material. It undergoes several generations per year under suitable conditions, with females producing eggs inserted into host plant tissue. Biological traits such as precise body length, generation time under field conditions, and lifespan data remain poorly documented in standardized assessments, though adults typically measure approximately 1–1.5 millimeters in length.