How do thrips use their mouthparts to feed on plants?

Thrips feed on plants using specialized mouthparts adapted for piercing and sucking. Unlike many other insects, their mouthparts are asymmetrical; only the single left mandible is developed, which functions as a chisel for piercing plant tissues or pollen granules. The maxillae are modified into piercing stylets that work in conjunction with the mandible to penetrate the plant.123

The head of a thrips is slightly skewed, with the mouthparts organized into a cone that is directed posteriorly. Both the maxillae and the labium are equipped with segmented sensory projections known as palps, which assist the insect during the feeding process. By piercing the plant surface, thrips are able to extract plant juices, a feeding habit that can lead to significant agricultural damage, including the disfigurement of flowers and fruits, reduced seed production, and the transmission of various plant viruses.21