Body brown; tarsi yellow, as well apices of tibiae; antennal segment IV yellow, V yellow in basal third; fore wings uniformly shaded. Head strongly reticulate, with three pairs of ocellar setae; reticles without 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 without 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 groups of well-developed 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
Specimens collected in Brazil have antennal segment III largely brown and microtrichia on abdominal tergites slightly shorter.
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 caribeanus can be distinguished from the other species reported from Brazil by the lack of internal markings on head and pronotal reticles, and by the groups of well-developed microtrichia on the lateral thirds of abdominal tergites II–VII. A key to Echinothrips species is given by Mound & Marullo (1996).
World distribution
Described from Guadeloupe, it is now widespread in Central America and also recorded from Brazil.
Breeding on leaves of several unrelated plant species, including in glasshouses. In Brazil, adults were found in Asclepias (Asclepiadaceae) and Phyllanthus niruri (Phyllanthaceae).
Economic importance
Not recorded.
References suggested
Mound LA & Marullo R (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International 6: 1–488.
Published in: 28/12/2016 Posted by: Mariana Lindner
