Frankliniella williamsi Hood, 1915

Skarlinsky Ii, Thomas L., 2024, The identification of the flower thrips, Frankliniella Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) intercepted at U. S. ports of entry, Insecta Mundi 2024 (39), pp. 1-64 : 63

Frankliniella williamsi Hood ( Fig. 10B, 55)

Distinguishing features. Color. Body, forewings, legs pale ( Fig. 55A). Structure. Antennal segment VIII at least 2.5 times as long as wide ( Fig. 55B). Head with the PO1 setae, OC3 setae in position 2B and the distance between the posterior tangent of the hind ocelli and posterior margin of the head is 58–65 µm ( Fig. 10B). Pronotum usually with 4 mAM setae. Upper surface of the hind coxae with microtrichia. Abdominal tergite VIII posteromarginal comb complete, microtrichia 15–19 µm ( Fig. 55C). Abdominal tergite IX B1 setae usually more than 100 µm ( Fig. 55C).

Interception frequency. Uncommon.

Region(s) of interceptions. North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America.

Comments. Frankliniella williamsi is commonly intercepted from Zea mays . Interestingly, Bedoya et al. (2017) indicated that the migration and systems of exchange by archaic peoples contributed to the spread of maize throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. Therefore, it would be reasonable to speculate, based on the geographic range of F. williamsi plus its association with maize that it may have been inadvertently transported by early man.

ginal comb and tergites IX–X.