ABSTRACT
Almost all of the thrips species that are considered pests are members of a single subfamily of Thripidae, the Thripinae, a group that represents less than 30% of the species in the insect Order Thysanoptera. Three of the five major Families of Thysanoptera (Aeolothripidae, Heterothripidae, Melanthripidae) are not known to include any pest species. The Phlaeothripidae that includes more than 50% of the 6300 thrips species listed includes very few that are considered to be pests. Within the Thripidae, the members of the three smaller subfamilies, Panchaetothripinae, Dendrothripinae and Sericothripinae, include remarkably few species that result in serious crop losses. It is only in the subfamily Thripinae, and particularly among species of the Frankliniella genus-group and the Thrips genus-group that the major thrips species are found, including all but one of the vectors of Orthotospovirus infections. It is argued that the concept of pest is a socio-economic problem, with the pest status of any particular species being dependent on geographical area, cultivation practices, and market expectations as much as the intrinsic biology of any thrips species.
ABSTRACT
The family Erythraeidae has 60 genera worldwide, of which Charletonia Oudemans has 86 described species, only two of which are recorded in Brazil. Here, we redescribe one of these species based on the holotype, Charletonia rocciai Treat and Flechtmann, and newly collected material. The material represents new records from four different localities in São Paulo State and one in Santa Catarina State. In addition, we provide SEM images of the morphological structures to improve the diagnosis and redescription, an updated distribution map, including biological data, and new host-associations of C. rocciai with the following orders of insects, Coleoptera and Thysanoptera, and with an order of Arachnida – Araneae.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Frankliniella zucchini transmits zucchini lethal chlorosis virus, causal agent of lethal chlorosis of zucchini squash. The characteristics of relationship between this virus with its vector have not been studied, one of the reasons being the lack of a method for rearing the thrips for laboratory studies. This work proposes a system for the rearing of F. zucchini on fresh virus free zucchini 'Caserta' fruits, offering a practical and efficient alternative for the supply of a large number of insects for later study of virus/vector relationship. In addition, to aid in the identification of this species of thrips, the immature and adult forms obtained from the colony were described.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Cashew, Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae), is one of the most important sources of agricultural income in northeastern Brazil, but many of the arthropods associated with the crop have yet to be identified. We describe here for the first time the damage caused by Holopothrips fulvus (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) to dwarf-cashew trees cultivated in the municipality of Pacajús, Ceará, Brazil. Leaf tissue injuries were caused by the sucking mouthparts of the insect and were characterized by dark necrotic spots on the epidermis that resulted in yellowing, wilting and, ultimately, abscission of the leaves. H. fulvus also fed on developing kernels and pseudofruits producing injuries that manifested in the form of chlorotic specks. Additional information is given on the pest status and important aspects of the morphology of the insect, including sexual dimorphism, redescription of the adults and description of the second instar larvae.
