Seasonal abundance of Thysanoptera species in Tillandsia usneoides (Poales: Bromeliaceae)
Keywords:
thrips, Frankliniella bispinosa, Karnyothrips melaleucus, epiphytic plantAbstract
Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides (L.) (Poales: Bromeliaceae), is widely distributed in the southeastern United States. A diversity of arthropod species from numerous taxa are known to inhabit this common epiphytic plant. Thysanoptera species inhabiting Spanish moss were sampled monthly over the course of a year from trees in 4 different genera and included 10 species of thrips from 8 genera and 3 families represented. Breeding populations of predatory Karnyothrips (Phlaeothripidae) were common in Spanish moss during all months of the year. The adults of 2 phytophagous species of Frankliniella (Thripidae) were common in the spring months, but only a few larvae were collected over the course of the year. The adults of other species collected were: Heterothrips quercicola J. C. Crawford (Heterothripidae); Chilothrips pini Hood, Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach), and Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) (Thripidae); and Hoplandrothrips pergandei Hinds and Liothrips ocellatus Hood (Phlaeothripidae). Although a diverse group of phytophagous thrips species inhabited Spanish moss, there was little evidence that it was a host. It may simply have been a temporary shelter with no other biological significance. The predatory thrips were abundant probably feeding on the diverse group of small arthropods that inhabit Spanish moss.
Resumen
El musgo español (o barba de viejo), Tillandsia usneoides (L.) (Poales: Bromeliaceae), está ampliamente distribuido en el sureste de Estados Unidos. Se sabe que hay una diversidad de especies de artrópodos de numerosos taxones que habitan esta planta epífita común. Se muestrearon mensualmente las especies de Thysanoptera que habitan el musgo español en el transcurso de un año a partir de 4 géneros diferentes de árboles y se incluyen 10 especies de 8 géneros y 3 familias de trips representadas. Las poblaciones reproductivas de depredadores Karnyothrips (Phlaeothripidae) fueron comunes en el musgo español durante todos los meses del año. Los adultos de 2 especies fitófagas de Frankliniella (Thripidae) fueron comunes en los meses de primavera, pero sólo unas pocas larvas fueron recolectadas en el transcurso del año. Los adultos de otras especies recolectadas fueron: Heterothrips quercicola J.C. Crawford (Heterothripidae); Chilothrips pini Hood, Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach) y Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) (Thripidae); y Hoplandrothrips pergandei Hinds y Liothrips ocellatus Hood (Phlaeothripidae). Aunque un grupo diverso de especies de trips fitófagos habitan el musgo español, hubo poca evidencia de que se trataba de ser un hospedero. Podría simplemente haber sido un refugio temporal con ningún otro significado biológico. Los trips depredadores fueron abundantes probablemente alimentandose sobre un grupo diverso de pequeños artrópodos que habitan en el musgo español.
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