Echinothrips americanus
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Both sexes fully winged. Body brown with red internal pigment; yellow tarsi and apices of tibiae, also antennal segments III � IV; forewings brown but sharply white near base. Head with complex reticulate sculpture; three pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III anterolateral to ocellar triangle; inner margin of eyes with two pairs of stout postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, segments III � IV with curved simple sensorium. Pronotum strongly reticulate, with two pairs of prominent posteroangular setae. Metanotum reticulate; median setae small, arising near anterior margin. Forewing pointed, curving forward; first and costal veins with long capitate setae, second vein without setae. Abdominal tergites II � VIII with median paired setae long and close together; tergite lateral thirds with irregular rows of prominent microtrichia; VIII posteromarginal comb of microtrichia complete. Sternites with marginal setae arising in front of margin. Male similar; sternites III � VIII each with up to 100 small circular glandular areas.
Related and similar species
This species is not known from California, but is included here as a potential invader. The genus Echinothrips includes only eight species, all of which are found between eastern North America and southern South America (Mound & Marullo, 1996).
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Echinothrips americanus Morgan
Original name and synonyms
Echinothrips americanus Morgan, 1913: 14
Dictyothrips floridensis Watson, 1919: 2
Family placement
Thripidae, Thripinae
Common names
Poinsettia thrips
Biological data
Life history
Breeding on leaves.
Host plants
Impatiens (Balsaminaceae), Euphorbia pulcherrima (Euphorbiaceae), Dieffenbachia and Syngonium(Araceae), Cardamine hirsuta (Crucifeae), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae).
Tospoviruses vectored
None.
Crop damage
Usually causing only minor damage to leaves of glasshouse plants.
Distribution data
Area of origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
Illinois to Florida, and since 1995 widespread across Europe (Vierbergen, 2006); also recorded from Thailand. Not yet known from California.