- Amynothrips andersoni
Taxobox
name = Alligator weed thrips
image_width =250px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Thysanoptera
familia =Phlaeothripidae
subfamilia =Phlaeothripinae
genus = "Amynothrips "
species = "A. andersoni"
binomial = "Amynothrips andersoni"
binomial_authority = O'Neill, 1968"Amynothrips andersoni" is a species of
thrips known as alligator weed thrips. It has been used as an agent ofbiological pest control against the noxiousaquatic plant known asalligator weed ("Alternanthera philoxeroides").This thrips is native to South America. It has been imported and released in the United States to feed upon alligator weed. It is now established in much of the southeastern United States. The adult thrips is 2 millimeters long, shiny, and black. A short-winged form and a long-winged flying form exist; the latter is rare. The female lays about 200 eggs during her ninety-day adult lifespan. If the female mates with a male she produces male and female offspring; if she goes unmated, her eggs will all yield male offspring. The eggs are tan ovoids half a millimeter long. The
larva is tan in its first stage and bright scarlet red in its second. Both larva and adult feed upon the alligator weed, generally on leaf buds and along leaf edges, causing curling of the leaves and stunting of the plant.External links
* [http://bc4weeds.tamu.edu/agents/alligatorweedthrips.html TAMU Biocontrol Profile]
References
*Coombs, E. M. et al., Eds. (2004). "Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States". Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 143.
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