Thrips palmi
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Both sexes fully winged. Body and legs yellow, major setae light brown; antennal segments IV � V brown distally, VI � VII brown; forewings pale. Head wider than long; two pairs of ocellar setae; pair III small, arising just outside ocellar triangle; postocular setae pair I slightly longer than ocellar setae III. Antennae 7-segmented; segments III � IV with short forked sensorium; VII short. Pronotum with two pairs of long posteroangular setae; posterior margin with three pairs of setae. Metanotum with irregular longitudinal lines converging to posterior margin, at anterior with curving transverse lines; median setae arising behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla present. Forewing first vein with three (sometimes two) setae on distal half; second vein with row of about 15 setae. Abdominal tergite II with four lateral marginal setae; tergites V � VIII with paired ctenidia laterally, on VIII posteromesad to spiracles; tergite VIII posteromarginal comb complete, microtrichia long and slender; pleurotergites without discal setae. Sternite II with two pairs of marginal setae, III � VII with three pairs; sternites without discal setae. Male smaller; tergite VIII with marginal comb complete medially; sternites III � VII with narrow transverse glandular area.
Related and similar species
Thrips palmi is a widespread pest in tropical countries, and although present in Florida it has not yet been found in California. This species is remarkably similar in structure to T. flavus Schrank, a species that is widespread from Europe across eastern Asia where it is sometimes a pest, but which has ocellar setae III arising within the ocellar triangle just behind the first ocellus. The genus Thrips is the second largest genus in the Thysanoptera, and currently includes, worldwide, about 280 species. All members of genus Thrips lack ocellar setae I on the head, and they all have ctenidia on tergite VIII posteromesad to the spiracles. Other characters, such as number of antennal segments, number of setae on the forewing veins, and number of discal setae on the sternites are variable between species (Palmer, 1992; Nakahara, 1994; Mound & Masumoto, 2005).
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Thrips palmi Karny
Original name and synonyms
Thrips palmi Karny, 1925: 10
Thrips clarus Moulton, 1928: 294
Thrips leucadophilus Priesner, 1936: 91
Thrips gossypicola Priesner, 1939: 41
Chloethrips aureus Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish, 1967: 381
Thrips gracilis Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish, 1968: 361
Family placement
Thripidae, Thripinae
Common names
Melon thrips [This species does not live on any palm plants � it was named originally after a Dr Palm and should NOT be called �Palm Thrips� ]
Biological data
Life history
Breeding in flowers and on leaves.
Host plants
Highly polyphagous, particularly Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae.
Tospoviruses vectored
WSMV, GBNV
Crop damage
Serious damage to several food crops, including aubergines and potatoes.
Distribution data
Area of origin
Southeast Asia
Distribution
Throughout Asia, locally in northern Australia, widespread in tropical countries, including Caribbean and southern Florida. [not recorded in California]
