Original reference: Moulton D (1948) The genus Frankliniella Karny, with keys for the determination of species (Thysanoptera). Revista de Entomologia 19: 55–114.
Body bicoloured, largely yellow, including legs; abdominal tergites V–VII with brown markings medially, VIII–X dark brown; antennal segment II light brown, III slightly shaded, IV & V brown at apical half, VI–VIII dark brown; fore wing pale. Head with three pairs of ocellar setae, pair III long and arising near anterior margin of ocellar triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with forked sense cones; III with pedicel margins produced to sharp-edged disc, but this is shorter than base of antennal segment II. Pronotum not sculptured and with two pairs of long posteroangular setae; anteroangular and anteromarginal setae long. Mesothoracic spinula long, metathoracic spinula absent. Metanotum with transverse lines of sculpture anteriorly, reticulate posteromedially; campaniform sensilla present; two pairs of setae arising at anterior margin. Fore 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; VIII with a complete posteromarginal comb of microtrichia. Sternites without discal setae, with three pairs of long posteromarginal setae. Both sexes fully winged.
Male uniformly yellow in colour; with transverse pore plates on abdominal sternites III–VII.
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 recorded from Brazil, and almost half of these were described from this country. Frankliniella bicolor can be misidentified as F. occidentalis, mainly because the colouration of abdominal segments. However, F.bicolor differs in having abdominal segments I–IV yellow, V–VII with brown markings medially and VIII–X uniformly dark brown. Antennal segment III bears short disc as in F. caseariae and F. gardeniae. A key to Frankliniella species recorded from Brazil is provided by Cavalleri & Mound (2012).
