Ceratothripoides brunneus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) recorded from Florida

Abstract

Summary The African thrips Ceratothripoides brunneus Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is reported for the first time from North America, collected from flowers of Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson (Acanthaceae) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The affinity of C. brunneus for solanaceous plants in other regions of the world suggests that future detection in Florida commercial tomato, pepper, and eggplant production areas is possible. A literature summary of geographic distribution and biology and a morphological description of adults are provided.