Merothrips morgani
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Similar in structure to M. floridensis but with curved sculpture lines medially on the pronotum.
Related and similar species
Although listed from California by Hoddle et al. (2004), no specimens of M. morgani have been studied by the present authors from west of Texas. This eastern North American species is similar in general body form to M. floridensis , but has distinctively curved sculpture lines on the median area of the pronotum. A total of 13 extant species are listed in the genus Merothrips, all from the warmer parts of the world.
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Merothrips morgani Hood
Original name and synonyms
Merothrips morgani Hood, 1912: 132
Merothrips hawaiiensis Hood, 1937: 411
Family placement
Merothripidae
Biological data
Life history
Breeding on dead twigs
Host plants
Feeding on hyphae of unidentified fungi on dead wood.
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
None
Distribution data
Area of origin
Possibly eastern North America
Distribution
USA (Illinois, Connecticut, New York, District of Colombia, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Texas, California, Hawaii), Panama, Australia, India, Kenya (Mound & O'Neill, 1974).