Original paper
Ecological trade-offs of thrips: balancing pest damage and pollination benefits in agroecosystems
Qu, Hui; Han, Kai-ru; Qu, Yuan-yuan; Shi, Yu-chen; Yang, Hong-xing; Zhang, Wen-bing; Zhang, Jian; Zhao, Jun; Su, Ya-jie; Yun, Xiao-peng; Chang, Jing; Li, Hai-ping
published online: Apr 1, 2026
manuscript accepted: Jan 22, 2026
final revised version received: Jan 10, 2026
manuscript revision requested: Dec 2, 2025
manuscript received: Aug 20, 2025
Abstract
The value of thrips in ecosystems is often ignored. Most thrips in agroecosystems are indirectly or directly killed by default as pests, but their ecological effects have rarely been studied, especially with respect to their potential pollination value for crops. Identifying the potential value of thrips in agroecology will help change our understanding of these species. Here, we showed through the thrips–sunflower study model that thrips provide pollination services while harming sunflowers. We found through pollination manipulation assays that thrips can pollinate, which can help increase the yield of sunflowers, and are an important wild pollination resource. Furthermore, we demonstrated through a pollen-carrier model that thrips have a remarkable ability to carry pollen. Therefore, the ecological function and value of thrips urgently need to be reconsidered; at the same time, the ecological value of thrips revealed by this research will help us balance the advantages and disadvantages of crop losses by pests of ecological value.
Keywords
crop yield •
Frankliniella
•
pollen •
wild pollinator •
mutualistic interaction •
agroecology •
ecological compensation •
insecticide •
sunflower