A tiny, black or pale insect (order Thysanoptera), 0.5–2.0 mm long, with short legs and antennae. Some are wingless and others have small wings fringed with long hairs. Some thrips feed on small invertebrates but most are herbivores and serious pests. There are more than 4500 species found worldwide. ‘Thrips’ is both singular and plural (there is no such thing as a ‘thrip’).