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[See FA 42, 5370] The mass flowering of red meranti (Shorea section Muticae) in 1976 was examined by using a tree boom on 100 trees of 6 species in Pasoh forest, Malaysia. The flora morphology, flowering behaviour and insect visitors are reported. Virtually all the insects were thrips (mainly Thrips sp. and T. hawaiiensis) which bred within the young inflorescences and damaged 17.6% of the flowers. The pollination behaviour and species composition of the thrips are described and their ecological significance is discussed. Between periods of general flowering of dipterocarps, flower thrips were found on many other tree species and especially those of similar floral structure (notably Mesua ferrea). [See also FA 43, 1852]