Body variable in colour, either yellow or brown forms; antennal segments VI–VIII and distal half of IV brown; fore wings pale. Head with three pairs of ocellar setae, pair III long, arising on anterior margins of ocellar triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with forked sense cones; III with pedicel margins slightly swollen. Pronotum not sculptured, 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 reticulation anteriorly, reticulate posteromedially; campaniform sensilla present; two pairs of setae arising at anterior margin. Tarsi 2-segmented. 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 widely interrupted posteromarginal comb of microtrichia, bearing only a few lateral teeth. Sternites without discal setae, with three pairs of long posteromarginal setae. Both sexes fully winged.
Male paler, with oval pore plate on abdominal sternites III–VII.
Intraspecific variation
All specimens studied from Brazil have body extensively yellow. Further studies are needed to confirm the identity of the South American individuals.
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 tritici can be identified easily by the swollen pedicel of antennal segment III, and the sparse posteromarginal comb on abdominal tergite VIII which is absent medially and with only a few slender teeth laterally. A key to Frankliniella species recorded from Brazil is provided by Cavalleri & Mound (2012).
World distribution
Described from USA, it is widespread in North America and it is also recorded from Argentina and Brazil.
Distribution in Brazil*
Alagoas, Bahia, Goiás and Maranhão.
* Literature and authors’ data.
Life history
Breeding on flowers. Has been studied from tobacco and Senna sp. (Fabaceae) in Northeastern Brazil.
Economic importance
Extensive damage to several crops and ornamentals as roses and dandelion (Nakahara 1997).
References suggested
Cavalleri A & Mound LA (2012) Toward the identification of Frankliniella species in Brazil (Thysanoptera, Thripidae). Zootaxa 3270: 1–30.
Nakahara S (1997) Annotated list of the Frankliniella species of the world (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Contributions on Entomology, International 2: 355–389.
