Which statement is true about Thysanoptera (thrips) mouthparts?

Study for the Science Olympiad Entomology Exam. Dive into entomology with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to help you ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true about Thysanoptera (thrips) mouthparts?

Explanation:
Thrips have mouthparts that are specialized for rasping-sucking, and a distinctive asymmetry. The right mandible is absent or greatly reduced, while the left mandible is used to rasp plant tissue, with the maxillary stylets forming a narrow canal to suck up the dissolved fluids. This arrangement explains why they are not chewing mouthparts, nor siphoning nectar, nor sponging liquids. So the true statement is that mouthparts are asymmetrical with no right mandible.

Thrips have mouthparts that are specialized for rasping-sucking, and a distinctive asymmetry. The right mandible is absent or greatly reduced, while the left mandible is used to rasp plant tissue, with the maxillary stylets forming a narrow canal to suck up the dissolved fluids. This arrangement explains why they are not chewing mouthparts, nor siphoning nectar, nor sponging liquids. So the true statement is that mouthparts are asymmetrical with no right mandible.

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