Red banded thrips

Adult thrips are dark-bodied with a red band on the first three abdominal segments. They are about 3 mm in length and have two pairs of clear wings that have large fringing hairs around the whole margin.

Damage: Both immature and adult thrips suck sap from cells. The preferred feeding site for thrips is the tissue next to the midrib on the undersurface of leaves, but in severe infestations fruit is also attacked. The first sign of damaging is a silvering of leaves and fruit.
In severe infestations, the silvering develops a pale yellow to brown discolouration, speckled darkly with dried droppings. This insect causes damage to mammey, cashew and mangosteen.