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How small are most adult thrips?

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Detailed illustration of a western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, showing its elongated yellow-brown body, six legs, and two pairs of fringed wings spread outward. — thrips Western flower thrips (*Frankliniella occidentalis*).

Most adult thrips are 1.5 to 3 mm (0.06 to 0.12 inch) in length. While they are among the smallest of the winged insects, their size can vary, with the smallest species measuring approximately 0.6 mm (0.02 inch) and the largest reaching about 15 mm (0.6 inch).1