Fulmekiola serrata (Kobus, 1892)

Thripinae, Thripidae, Terebrantia, Thysanoptera

Figures

Fig. 1: 7-segmented antenna, terminal segments VI and VII, pedicel and segments III and IV with forked sense cone
Fig. 2: Head dorsal with ocellar triangle with long ocellar setae II
Fig. 3: Pronotum
Fig. 4: Meso- and metanotum
Fig. 5: Fore wing and fore wing distal region
Fig. 6: Tergites V-VII
Fig. 7: Sternites V and VI
Fig. 8: Sternites VI and VII
Fig. 9: Tergites VIII-XI

Fulmekiola serrata feeds predominantly on the leaves of Poaceae, especially sugar cane. Female macropterous; body color brown; tibiae and tarsi yellow; also antennal segments III-V and base of VI yellow; fore wings light brown with base slightly paler. Antennae 7-segmented; segments III & IV with sense cone small and forked (Fig. 1). Head longer than wide and projecting slightly in front of eyes; only 2 pairs of ocellar setae present, pair I absent, pair II longer than side of ocellar triangle and longer than pair III, pair III anterolateral to ocellar triangle; postocular setae small, one pair displaced to posterior (Fig. 2). Pronotum with 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae; posterior margin with 3 pairs of setae (Fig. 3). Meso- and metafurca without spinula. Metanotum with converging lines of sculpture, transverse at anterior, but longitudinal on posterior half; median setae longer than lateral setae and arise behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla present (Fig. 4). Mid and hind tarsi 2-segmented. Fore wing first vein with 3 setae on distal half; second vein with a complete row of 10 to 12 setae; clavus with 4 marginal setae (Fig. 5). Tergites II-VII with craspedum of pale rounded lobes fused at base, laterally large independent teeth; V-VIII with paired ctenidia laterally, on VIII these are posteromedial to the spiracle (Fig. 6 and 9). Sternites without discal setae; posterior margins with toothed craspedum of independent pointed lobes; median setae on VII arising in front of margin (Fig. 7 and 8).
Male similar to female but smaller; tergite IX with 2 pairs of subequal setae medially; sternites III-VII with a small transverse glandular area.

The genus Fulmekiola Karny, 1925
Only 1 species is placed in the genus which is widespread as a pest of sugar cane in the Oriental region, but this is probably derived from within the genus Thrips, judging from the presence and position of ctenidia on the tergites. It shares many character states with members of the genus Thrips, but has a toothed craspedum on the tergites and sternites, and very long ocellar setae II (Mound & Kibby 1998), which are longer than ocellar setae III.

As in the members of the genera Stenchaetothrips, Thrips, Microcephalothrips and Larothrips, tergites V-VIII of Fulmekiola serrata with a pair of ctenidia laterally, which on tergite VIII arranged posteromedial to the spiracle, and all of these species without ocellar setae I. Compared to Fulmekiola serrata, species of Thrips and Stenchaetothrips have no posteromarginal craspedum on tergites and sternites, but Fulmekiola serrata is similar to the species of Stenchaetothrips because of the long ocellar setae II, which are longer than ocellar setae III. Fulmekiola serrata as well as Microcephalothrips abdominalis and Larothrips dentipes all of them exhibit a posteromarginal craspedum on tergites, but in Fulmekiola serrata and Microcephalothrips abdominalis the craspedum on tergites II-VII consist of independent triangular lobes or teeth (Microcephalothrips abdominalis), or of medially rounded lobes fused at base and laterally large independent teeth (Fulmekiola serrata). Both have a fore wing clavus with 4 (Fulmekiola serrata) or 5 marginal setae (Microcephalothrips abdominalis), and fore wing first vein with 3 discal setae. In contrast, in Larothrips dentipes the craspedum on tergites II-VII consist of unbroken border or flange, fore femora and fore tibiae are enlarged and fore tibiae bearing a stout curved claw ventrolaterally, fore wing clavus with 6 marginal setae, and fore wing first vein with 2 discal setae. In contrast to Microcephalothrips abdominalis and Larothrips dentipes, Fulmekiola serrata has ocellar setae II much longer than III and longer than side of ocellar triangle, 2 pairs of elongate posteroangular setae (as species of Stenchaetothrips and Thrips), and sternites without discal setae, but with craspeda on posterior margins. Whereas Microcephalothrips abdominalis and Larothrips dentipes possess ocellar setae II which are about as long as ocellar setae III or shorter, no elongate (Larothrips dentipes) or only 2 pairs (Microcephalothrips abdominalis) of moderately long pronotal posteroangular setae, and discal setae, but no posteromarginal craspeda on sternites.

Life history
As with other thrips species the life cycle from egg to adult is dependent on temperature. The full cycle can take less than one week to over a month and adults may live for more than one month producing several generations in one year depending on seasonal weather (Lewis 1973).

Host plants
Sugarcane.

Vector capacity
None identified, but possible mechanical distribution of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria.

Detection and control strategies
Soil followed by foliar application of Oxamyl, Aldicarb or Imidacloprid was effective in controlling Fulmekiola serrata (Leslie and Moodley, 2009). Isolate of Steinernema applied at 2000 IJs/sq.m was effective in control of Fulmekiola serrata (Pillay et al., 2010).

Biogeography

Widespread in the Oriental Region, but introduced to many Caribbean Islands, the West Indies and South Africa. Madagascar, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal: Umfolosi; Mpumalanga; Eastern Cape: Tabankulu).

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