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, Galapagos Islands, Australia, India, Kenya (Mound & O'Neill, 1974).