The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.
Introduction
The gladiolus thrips (Figure 1) causes deformities and discoloration of gladiolus flowers, and corms (bulbs) become soft and are prone to decay.
Credit: Division of Plant Industry
Synonymy
The gladiolus thrips was first described by Morison (1930) as Physothrips simplex from five female specimens collected on carnation flowers, Dianthus caryophyllus, from Urrbrae, South Australia. The holotype and one paratype are deposited in the British Museum.
Moulton and Steinweden (1931) described this thrips under the name Taeniothrips gladioli from Ontario, Canada, and it was synonymized by Steele (1935). Bhatti (1969) placed Taeniothrips gladioli in the genus Thrips. Kellie O'Neill of the US National Museum (retired) has suggested that this thrips probably originated in Africa as did its preferred host, gladiolus, Gladiolu x hortulanus.
Distribution
Gladiolus thrips is widespread and is found almost everywhere gladiolus are grown in Africa, southern Asia and Japan, Australia, several Pacific Islands, Europe, and North and South America.
In the United States, it is found in almost all states. It was first found in Florida in 1932 (Watson 1941).
Although it cannot overwinter out-of-doors in northern Europe and northern North America, the annual spread of this thrips probably results from its infested corms being shipped to all parts of the country.
Description
Adults emerge milky-white, but soon turn brown and begin feeding. The female (Figure 2) is approximately 1.65 mm long and slightly larger than the male. The antennae are dark brown except for the third segment, which is light brown (Figure 4). The wings have a light transverse band near the base. The first vein of the forewing has seven setae on the distal half (Figure 5).
Credit: Laurence Mound, Australian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scienctific and Industrial Research Organisation. Courtesy of https://www.padil.gov.au/. Used with permission.
Credit: Division of Plant Industry
Credit: Laurence Mound, Australian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Courtesy of https://www.padil.gov.au/. Used with permission.
Credit: Laurence Mound, Australian National Insect Collection, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Courtesy of https://www.padil.gov.au/. Used with permission.
The egg is about 0.3 mm long, opaque white, smooth, and bean shaped. Eggs are deposited in the leaf tissue and corms. The two larval stages are light yellow and are usually found beneath the leaves or bracts. The fully developed second-instar larva is about the size of the adult. The first pupal stage is distinguished from the second pupal stage by having forward projecting antennae and short wing pads. The second pupal stage, which is a quiescent period, has the antennae folded over the back and much longer wing pads (Figure 6).
Credit: Division of Plant Industry
Host Plants
The thrips feed and reproduce primarily on gladiolus flower spikes and corms; however, it has been recorded from Philodendron selloum, Clitoria sp., Rhododendron indicum, Calendula spp., and crow-foot grass, Eleusine indica. This thrips has never been reared from these plants and they cannot be considered valid hosts. It was reported to reproduce on Tritonia sp., Tigridia sp., and Kniphofia sp.
Credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, www.ipmimages.org
Credit: Division of Plant Industry
Credit: Division of Plant Industry
Selected References
Bhatti JS. 1969. Taxonomic studies in some Thripini (ThysanopteraThripidae). Oriental Insects 3: 373-382.
Magie RO, Overman AJ, Gilbreath JP, Waters WE, Wilfret GJ, Price JF, Woltz SS. 1988. Gladiolus corm production. Gladio Grams Bulletin No. 69: 2-28.
Mizell RF, Fasulo TR, Short DE. 2002. WoodyBug: pest and beneficial arthropods of southeastern U.S. woody ornamentals. University of Florida/IFAS. CD-ROM. SW 119.
Morison GD. 1930. On a collection of Thysanoptera from South Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 21: 9-14.
Moulton D, Steinweden JB. 1931. A new Taeniothrips on gladiolus. Canadian Entomologist 63: 20-21.
Steele HV. 1935. Thrips investigation: some common Thysanoptera in Australia. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Commonwealth of Australia, Pamphlet 54. 59 pp.
Watson JW. 1941. The gladiolus thrips in Florida. University of Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 357. 23 pp.