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 I–III & V yellow, IV brown in apical half, VI–VIII brown; fore wings 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, but less than 0.5 pronotum length. 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 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 gardeniae is a yellow species which bears a short disc on the pedicel of antennal segment III. Antennal segment II is also unusually long, about 2.0 times as long as wide. A key to Frankliniella species recorded from Brazil is provided by Cavalleri & Mound (2012).
Breeding on flowers of several unrelated plants, such as citrus, grapes and ornamentals. In South Brazil, it was reported as a primary pollinator of the endangered tree Ocotea porosa (Lauraceae) (Danieli-Silva & Varassin 2013).
Economic importance
It is referred damaging flower buds of Citrus plants in São Paulo (Monteiro 1999).
References suggested
Cavalleri A & Mound LA (2012) Toward the identification of Frankliniella species in Brazil (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa 3270: 1–30.
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
