Frankliniella bispinosa
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Both sexes fully winged. Body and legs yellow, major setae dark brown; antennal segments VI � VIII brown, also apex of II � IV but V clear yellow; forewing pale. Head wider than long; three pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III as long as side of ocellar triangle, arising on anterior margins of triangle; postocular setae pair I present, pair IV as long as one hind ocellus. Antennae 8-segmented, III � IV with sensorium forked; segment III pedicel with sharp edged ring surmounted by chalice-shaped structure, ring upper and lower surfaces concave. Pronotum with five pairs of major setae; anteromarginal setae distinctly shorter than anteroangulars, one pair of minor setae present medially between posteromarginal submedian setae. Metanotum with two pairs of setae at anterior margin, campaniform sensilla present. Forewing with both setal rows complete. Abdominal tergites V � VIII with paired ctenidia, on VIII anterolateral to spiracle; posteromarginal comb on VIII absent medially but with a few broadly based microtrichia laterally. Sternites III � VII without discal setae. Male similar but smaller; sternites III � VII medially with broadly oval glandular area.
Related and similar species
This species is not known from California, but is included here as a potential invader. F. bispinosa is particularly similar to the widespread Caribbean species, F. cephalica , the only recorded difference being in the shape of the pedicel ring on the third antennal segment. Molecular data is required to confirm that these are distinct biological species. More than 160 species are currently listed in the genus Frankliniella, with up to 130 further names placed into synonymy (Nakahara, 1997). This high rate of synonymy has been due to the previously unrecognized variability in size and color of so many species.
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Frankliniella bispinosa (Morgan)
Original name and synonyms
Euthrips tritici bispinosus Morgan, 1913: 10
Euthrips projectus Watson, 1915: 51
Euthrips masoni Watson, 1919: 4
Family placement
Thripidae, Thripinae
Common names
Florida flower thrips
Biological data
Life history
Breeding in flowers
Host plants
Flowers of various plant species.
Tospoviruses vectored
None confirmed under field conditions, but TSWV vectored in laboratory tests (Avila et al. 2006)
Crop damage
Damage to flowers and young fruit of Citrus in Florida (Childers, in Lewis, 1997).
Distribution data
Area of origin
Southeastern USA
Distribution
South eastern USA, Bermuda, Bahama Islands. Not known from California.
