Original reference: Moulton D (1948) The genus Frankliniella Karny, with keys for the determination of species (Thysanoptera). Revista de Entomologia 19: 55–114.
Body yellow, including legs; antennal segments II–IV brownish yellow, V brown with a short pale area basally, VI–VIII brown; fore wings pale; body setae unusually slender. Head slightly projected in front of eyes; with three pairs of ocellar setae, pair III long and arising within ocellar triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with forked sense cones; III with simple pedicel; segment VIII unusually long, about 3.0 times as long as wide. Pronotum not sculptured, with two pairs of long posteroangular setae; anteroangular and anteromarginal setae long, but less than 0.5 pronotum length; often with two pairs of minor anteromarginal instead of one pair. 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 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 smaller, with transverse and slightly curved pore plate 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 referred to Brazil, almost half described from this country. Frankliniella frumenti is closely related to other South American grass living thrips as bondari and graminis. All have head projected in front of eyes and unusually slender setae on their bodies, but F. frumenti is distinctive in having longer antennal segment VIII. A key to Frankliniella species recorded from Brazil is provided by Cavalleri & Mound (2012).
World distribution
Described from Chile, it is also recorded from Argentina and Brazil.
Breeds on flowers of several Poaceae. Has been studied from flowers of Paspalum urvillei and Eragrostis ciliaris in South Brazil.
Economic importance
Mentioned as a pest of corn and wheat in Argentina (see de Borbón 2013).
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.
Published in: 28/12/2016 Posted by: Mariana Lindner
