Adult identity crisis in Leucothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) associated with the tropical ornamental plant Codiaeum variegatum (Euphorbiaceae)

Authors

  • Thomas L Skarlinsky United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ), Miami Plant Inspection
  • Paul Rugman-Jones University of California, Department of Entomology
  • Joe Funderburk University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center
  • Richard Stouthamer University of California, Department of Entomology
  • Carlos Sanabri Ujueta Servicio fitosanitario del Estado, Ministerio Agricultura y Ganadería

Keywords:

thrips, immature, molecular, morphology

Abstract

Abstract

Frequent US port of entry quarantine interceptions of unidentifiable larval Leucothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) species in association with Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Rumph. ex A. Juss. (Euphorbiaceae) ornamental plants from Costa Rica, initiated research to determine if these thrips were an invasive threat to US agriculture. Larval and adult Leucothrips were collected from the new growth leaves of C. variegatum and other plants in Florida and Costa Rica. There were no morphological differences among adult specimens from different hosts in Florida and Costa Rica; all identified as Leucothrips furcatus Hood by comparison with type specimens. However, morphological differences in larvae associated with these adult specimens were evident. DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 gene (COI), and 2 regions of the nuclear ribosomal cistron (rRNA; the complete internal transcribed spacer 2 [ITS2], and a section of the 28S large subunit rRNA) were used to verify that larvae and adults collected at the same site were the same species. Molecular data revealed species level divergence congruent with larval morphological differences.

 

Resumen

Intercepciones frecuentes de cuarentena en los puertos de entrada de larvas de especies de Leucothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) no identificables en asociación con plantas ornamentales de Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Rumph. ex A. Juss. (Euphorbiaceae) importadas de Costa Rica, inició una investigación para determinar si estos trips son una amenaza invasiva a la agricultura estadounidense. Larvas y adultos de Leucothrips fueron recolectados de las nuevas hojas de crecimiento de C. variegatum y otras plantas en la Florida y Costa Rica. No hubo diferencias morfológicas entre especímenes adultos de diferentes hospederos en la Florida y Costa Rica; Todos fueron identificados como Leucothrips furcatus Hood en comparación con los especímenes tipo. Sin embargo, hubo diferencias morfológicas evidentes en larvas asociadas con estos especímenes adultos. Se utilizaron secuencias de ADN de la subunidad 1 de la citocromo oxidasa mitocondrial del gen (COI) y 2 regiones del cistrón ribosómico nuclear (ARNr, el espaciador transcrito interno complete 2 [ITS2] y una sección del ARNr de la subunidad grande 28S) para verificar que las larvas y los adultos recolectados en el mismo sitio eran de la misma especie. Los datos moleculares revelaron divergencia de nivel de especie congruente con las diferencias morfológicas larvales.

 

View this article in BioOne

 

Downloads

Published

2017-10-10

Issue

Vol. 100, No. 3 (September 2017)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.