Echinothrips

Moulton, 1911

Echinothrips is a of in the containing approximately seven described . The genus is best known through Echinothrips americanus, a pest of greenhouse and agricultural that has spread globally from its range in eastern North America. Species in this genus are , feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits by piercing and sucking . The genus exhibits haplo- with , where unfertilized produce males and fertilized eggs produce diploid females.

Echinothrips americanus PaDIL136415a by Laurence Mound, ANIC, CSIRO. Used under a CC BY 3.0 au license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Echinothrips: //ɛˌkaɪnəˈθrɪps//

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Habitat

Greenhouse environments and agricultural systems; leaf-dwelling rather than flower-dwelling. Echinothrips americanus has been reared in laboratory conditions at 23±1°C, 60±10% RH, with 16:8 L:D on plants including Phaseolus vulgaris and Gossypium sp.

Distribution

to eastern North America; Echinothrips americanus has spread to Canada, Europe, Asia, and Northern Australia within the last 30 years via human-mediated global trading. Documented in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, UK), Asia (China, Thailand), North America (Canada: British Columbia, Ontario; USA: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Virginia), and Central America and Caribbean (Puerto Rico). Records from Uzbekistan (2014) and Denmark, Norway, Sweden per GBIF.

Diet

; feeds on leaves, flowers, and fruits by piercing and sucking . Echinothrips americanus is , reported from 48 plant worldwide with preferred in Araceae and Balsaminaceae.

Host Associations

Phaseolus vulgaris - laboratory Laboratory rearing
Gossypium sp. - laboratory Laboratory rearing
Euphorbia pulcherrima - First reported 1984 in Georgia; 'poinsettia ' derives from this association
Impatiens spp. - preferred Balsaminaceae; suggested 'impatiens '
Gerbera - Greenhouse
Rosa - Greenhouse
Capsicum annuum - Sweet pepper, greenhouse
Cucumis sativus - Cucumber, greenhouse
Solanum melongena - Eggplant, greenhouse

Life Cycle

Haplo- reproductive mode with : males develop from unfertilized , diploid females from fertilized eggs. Males exhibit prospermatogeny (spermiogenesis completed at ). Mean lifespan 10-14 days under laboratory conditions. Females can mature eggs throughout almost their entire adult life.

Behavior

Males produce including dimethyl glutarate (DBE-5) and dimethyl adipate (DBE-6) that influence mating . DBE-5 induces wagging and raising in both sexes; DBE-6 is present on mated females and causes males to avoid them. Mating involves three phases (precopulation, copulation, postcopulation) with antennal contact, mounting, insertion, and a calm period with no body movement. Copulation duration averages 6-10 minutes, with younger males copulating significantly shorter than older males (~403s vs ~611s). Males can inseminate up to 10 females with equal sperm quantities. Males clasp female with legs and twist abdomen underneath female's; antennal palpation and mesothoracic leg stroking of female's back occur during copulation. Females can remate but show reduced receptivity after initial copulation. Males repeatedly attempt to mate even with unreceptive females and exhibit strong competition for virgin females.

Ecological Role

Agricultural and greenhouse pest causing damage through feeding. Leaf-dwelling habit distinguishes it from flower-dwelling . Potential virus transmission (genomoviruses have been recovered from E. americanus). Subject to efforts using predatory thrips (Franklinothrips vespiformis) and (Tapinoma melanocephalum).

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest in greenhouse and agricultural systems. Echinothrips americanus has become an important pest in vegetable and ornamental across multiple continents. Control methods include chemical treatments and agents. Alternative pest management strategies using male-produced have been proposed.

Similar Taxa

ThripsSame ; Echinothrips distinguished by specific antennal structure, body shape, and characteristics, though detailed distinguishing features require expert examination
Frankliniella occidentalisBoth are pests; Echinothrips is leaf-dwelling while is primarily flower-dwelling, affecting strategies
AeolothripsBoth can show banded patterns; Aeolothrips are predatory with different ecological roles, and wing banding patterns differ (A. fasciatus has , , and versus Echinothrips patterns)