We studied the use of a supervised artificial neural network (ANN) model for semi-automated identification of 18 common European species of Thysanoptera from four genera: Aeolothrips Haliday (Aeolothripidae), Chirothrips Haliday, Dendrothrips Uzel, and Limothrips Haliday (all Thripidae). As input data, we entered 17 continuous morphometric and two qualitative two-state characters measured or determined on different parts of the thrips body (head, pronotum, forewing and ovipositor) and the sex. Our experimental data set included 498 thrips specimens. A relatively simple ANN architecture (multilayer perceptrons with a single hidden layer) enabled a 97% correct simultaneous identification of both males and females of all the 18 species in an independent test. This high reliability of classification is promising for a wider application of ANN in the practice of Thysanoptera identification.

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In the area of the Moravian Gate at Štramberk (Moravia, Czech Republic) detailed field investigations of Thysanoptera were conducted. The Gate offers the possibility of dispersal of thrips species from the South to the North and vice versa. A total of 359 samples were collected, from which 2367 adult specimens of Thysanoptera belonging to 55 species were obtained. Between them are species having their main distribution in the Southern parts of Europe, such as Aptinothrips elegans, Anaphothrips atroapterus, A. euphorbiae, Chirothrips aculeatus, Limothrips consimilis, Neohydatothrips abnormis, Rubiothrips pillichi, R. validus and Theilopedothrips pilosus. Additionally species were found that are absent or dispersed in Southern Europe, such as Aptinothrips stylifer, Chirothrips hamatus, Odontothrips loti and Platythrips tunicatus. In ancient times these species may have used the Moravian Gate, which has been passed by large armies and many traders (the amber route), carrying all kinds of plant products with them.

At the end of the prosperity of the coal mining industry in Upper Silesia in Poland, new habitats were created in disturbed areas which, in the case of flooded mine subsidence, led to the formation of a type of ecological niche not encountered before. In the present work the authors describe the diversity of oak-hornbeam forest in the areas of flooded mine subsidence and the thrips communities connected with them. In 2006 and 2007, the thrips fauna of subsidence areas was sampled in biotopes directly associated with depressions (waterside, contact zones between aquatic and terrestrial -forest biotopes). In both ecosystems a total of 118 plant species and 56 thrips species were found. Disturbance of land resulting in flooded mine subsidence contributes to increased species diversity of both plants and thrips. Other kinds of disturbance such as traffic routes and its direct and indirect impact cause reduce numbers of plants and thrips species.