Phlaeothrips coriaceus

Minute brown insect with a narrow body and two pairs of feathery wings.  There are over 150 species of thrip in the UK.

May be found on dead branches of broadleaved trees and shrubs. 

April to October.  They are predominantly a summer pest, favouring warm temperatures and dry conditions.

Breeds on dead branches. Thrip females have a serrated tube for laying eggs into plant tissue. Thrips have six lifecycle stages including egg, larvae, pupa and adult.

Widespread in Europe but collected infrequently in Britain. 

Seems to be rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, this may be the first VC55 record.