Body largely brown; tarsi yellow, as well apices of tibiae; antennal segments III & IV yellow, V brown in apical half; fore wings mainly brown but with a pale area basally. Head strongly reticulate, with three pairs of ocellar setae; reticles with internal markings. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with simple, curved sense cones. Pronotum strongly reticulate; two pairs of long posteroangular setae; one pair of long setae on anterior margin; reticles with internal markings. Mesothoracic spinula long; metathoracic spinula absent. Metanotum reticulate; campaniform sensilla absent; median setal pair stout and arising slightly behind anterior margin. Fore wing first vein with setal row essentially complete, second vein without setae. Abdominal tergites II–VII with many lines of sculpture bearing several fine microtrichia laterally; II–VIII with pair of long and close together median setae; VIII with posteromarginal comb of microtrichia. Sternites without discal setae, with three pairs of long setae arising slightly in front of margin. Both sexes winged.
Male sternites III–VIII each with several small circular pore plates.
Intraspecific variation
Not recorded.
Genus and similar species information
The genus Echinothrips includes seven species, found from North America to southern South America. All of them have the head and pronotum strongly reticulate but differ from Panchaetothripinae in having a well-developed mesothoracic spinula. Echinothrips americanus can be distinguished from the other species reported from Brazil by the reticles with internal markings on the head and pronotum, and by the basal pale band on fore wing. A key to Echinothrips species is given by Mound & Marullo (1996).
World distribution
Described from USA, it is now widespread in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Distribution in Brazil*
Bahia, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo.
*Literature and authors’ data only.
Life history
Breeding on leaves of several unrelated plant species, including in glasshouses. In Brazil, adults were found in Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae), Capsicum frutescens (Solanaceae) and Fragaria vesca (Rosaceae).
Economic importance
Recorded as a minor pest in glasshouses.
References suggested
Mound LA & Marullo R (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International 6: 1–488.
