A Key to Some Frankliniella (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Larvae Found in Florida with Descriptions of the First Instar of Select species

• Published in: The Florida entomologist Vol. 99; no. 3; pp. 463 - 470
• Main Authors: Skarlinsky, Thomas, Funderburk, Joe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lutz Florida Entomological Society 01-09-2016
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adults; COI mitochondrial gene; Entomology; gen mitocondrial COI; Highlands; host plant; Host plants; identificación; Identification; immature; inmaduro; Insect larvae; Insects; Instars; Larvae; Microscopy; morfología; Morphology; Plant morphology; Plant taxonomy; planta hospedero; Plants; RESEARCH PAPERS; Sensilla; Studies; Thripidae; thrips; Thysanoptera; trips; Florida; ASW, USA, Florida
• ISSN: 0015-4040; 1938-5102
• DOI: 10.1653/024.099.0319

Few publications exist toward the identification of larval thrips. As a result, researchers and practitioners often are unable to report larval species data or may misinterpret what is a host plant when adults of multiple species are collected. Therefore, we conducted repetitive plant sampling and detailed examination of larvae with adults, which revealed morphological differences of some undescribed Frankliniella (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) larvae. The morphological differences were confirmed by non-destructive DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing of the COI mitochondrial gene. A larva II morphological key to 7 Frankliniella species found in Florida is presented with new larval descriptions of 4 species.