Parthenothrips dracaenae
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Both sexes fully winged. Body and femora brown, tibiae and tarsi yellow; antennal segments I � V largely yellow; forewing mainly pale, small dark cross band in basal half with a diffuse shaded area on distal half. Head strongly reticulate, cheeks constricted to basal neck; 3 pairs of translucent postocular setae. Antennae 7-segmented, VII slightly shorter than VI; III � IV with short, simple sensorium. Pronotum reticulate, with 1 pair of flattened postero-angular setae. Mesonotum reticulate on anterior half, lateral setae minute. Metanotum reticulate medially, median setae arise on posterior half. Tarsi 1-segmented. Forewing broad with constriction in basal third, membrane reticulate; veinal setae translucent, broad with thickened median rhachis; costa without cilia, postero-marginal cilia wavy. Abdominal tergites without craspeda, with weak reticulation laterally, median setae small; VIII with no marginal comb of microtrichia; tergite X with complete median division. Sternites with 3 pairs of small marginal setae. Male sternites IV � VII with circular glandular area, larger on posterior sternites.
Related and similar species
There is only one species in the genus Parthenothrips, and no other thrips is known with such distinctive reticulate forewings.
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Parthenothrips dracaenae (Heeger)
Original name and synonyms
Heliothrips dracaenae Heeger, 1854: 365
Parthenothrips concolor Uzel, 1895: 172
Family placement
Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae
Common names
Parlour palm thrips
Biological data
Life history
Larvae and adults feed on leaves, and pupae also occur on leaves.
Host plants
Feeding on a wide range of plants, most of which have hard leaves. Frequently associated with the leaves of the cultivated palm, Howea forsteriana (=Kentia palm or Parlour palm), but also commonly found on the fern Adiantum spp.
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
The larval fecal deposits often soil the leaves of various plants, particularly small palms in domestic environments (Howea spp).
Distribution data
Area of origin
Possibly Australia.
Distribution
Widely distributed around the world.
