Original reference: Hood JD & Williams CB (1915) New Thysanoptera from Florida and Louisiana. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 23: 121–138.
Body uniformly yellow to yellowish brown; anterior region of head and antennal segments IV–VIII darker; fore wing strongly shaded. Head weakly sclerotized posteriorly, covered with weak lines of sculpture; with one pair of long ocellar setae, but with very short postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV each with transverse sensorium at apex; segment V unusually small and sub-spherical in shape. Pronotum sculptured with longitudinal lines medially; widest at posterior and with one pair of long posteroangular setae. Meso & metathoracic spinula present. Fore tibia usually with a well-developed tooth. Mesonotum with a long setae arising laterally; metanotum with weak sculpture medially; paired campaniform sensilla present. Fore wing with both rows of setae complete. Tarsi 2-segmented. Abdominal tergites without microtrichia and X with a pair of stout trichobothria. Sternites III–VII with few moderately long discal setae; ovipositor weakly developed. Female macroptera or aptera, male always wingless.
Male smaller and paler; with a dorsal glandular area on head; fore tibia with a stout tooth, fore femora enlarged and with a basal tubercle.
Intraspecific variation
Eyes elongated ventrally but variable in length.
Genus and similar species information
Merothrips includes 13 extant species, many of them described from the Neotropics. They all have antennae 8-segmented and the transverse sensoria on segments III & IV are and sometimes slightly inflated. Many species are known only from apterous forms. This species is distinctive in having antennal segment V sub-spherical and postocular setae on head exceptionally short.A key to Merothrips species is given by Mound & O’Neill (1974).
Lives on dead branches, and possibly feeds on fungal hyphae.
Economic importance
Not recorded.
References suggested
Mound LA & O'Neill K (1974) Taxonomy of the Merothripidae, with ecological and phylogenetic considerations (Thysanoptera). Journal of Natural History 8: 481–509.
Mound LA & Marullo R (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International 6: 1–488.
Published in: 23/12/2016 Posted by: Mariana Lindner
