Frankliniella graminis Cavalleri & Mound, 2012: 9.

Original reference: Cavalleri A & Mound LA (2012) Toward the identification of Frankliniella species in Brazil (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa 3270: 1–30.

Family

Thripidae, Thripinae

Nomenclatural information

http://thrips.info/wiki/Frankliniella_graminis

Diagnosis

Body extensively yellow, including legs; antennal segments I–II yellow, III–IV yellowish brown and V–VIII brown, V distinctively yellowish in basal third; abdominal segment X extensively darkened, except for basal fifth; fore wings pale to weakly shaded; major body setae unusually slender. Head slightly prolonged anteriorly in front of eyes;[MFL1] three pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III long and arising close to anterior margins of ocellar triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with forked sense cones; III with simple pedicel. Pronotum [MFL2] with two pairs of long posteroangular setae; anteroangular setae minute and anteromarginal setae scarcely longer than discal setae.[MFL3] Metanotum with transverse lines of sculpture anteriorly, irregularly reticulate posteromedially; campaniform sensilla absent; two pairs of setae arising at anterior margin. Fore wing with first and second rows of setae complete and closely spaced. Abdominal tergites V–VIII with ctenidia laterally, ctenidia on VIII anterolateral to spiracle; II–VII with few lateral and irregular teeth on posterior margin; VIII with complete posteromarginal comb of microtrichia arising from triangular bases. Sternites without discal setae but II–VII with an irregular craspedum of short and broad teeth posteriorly; craspeda sometimes interrupted medially; sternites with three pairs of long posteromarginal setae. Both sexes fully winged.

Male smaller than female and body without brown markings; posterior margin of abdominal tergites II–VII with well-developed craspedum of tooth like lobes; tergite VIII with a complete comb of microtrichia; abdominal sternites II–VIII with toothed craspedum posteriorly; sternites III–VII each with large transverse pore plate.

Intraspecific variation

Not recorded.

Genus and similar species information

Frankliniella is one of the largest genera amongst Thysanoptera, comprising more than 160 described species. About 90% of the species are from the Neotropics and their taxonomy is usually complex. Almost all members have 8-segmented antennae, three pairs of ocellar setae and fore wing with both rows of setae complete. About 40 species are referred to Brazil, almost half described from this country. Frankliniella graminis seems to be related to other yellow, grass-living Frankliniella, such as bondari and frumenti. All of these have the head prolonged anteriorly, and relatively slender major setae on the head and thorax. However, this species is remarkable in having very short or even minute pronotal anteromarginal and anteroangular setae. A key to Frankliniella species recorded from Brazil is provided by Cavalleri & Mound (2012).

World distribution

Described from Brazil, it is also recorded from Argentina.

Distribution in Brazil

http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/fauna/faunadobrasil/49183 

Life history

Breeds on flowers of Poaceae. Has been studied from flowers of Cymbopogon citratus

and in Melinis minutiflora in Southeastern Brazil.

Economic importance

Not recorded.

References suggested

Cavalleri A & Mound LA (2012) Toward the identification of Frankliniella species in Brazil (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa 3270: 1–30.

de Borbón CM (2013) Especies del género Frankliniella (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) registradas en la Argentina, una actualización. Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias 45(1): 259–284.