Cuticular hydrocarbon pattern as a chemotaxonomy marker to assess six species of thrips

Abstract

• Cuticular hydrocarbons of insects may be useful in the chemotaxonomy of species. • A Thermal Separation Probe was used to identify the cuticular hydrocarbons of thrips. • The cuticular hydrocarbons profiles of 6 species of thrip were obtained. • The finding could provide a possible method for the identification of thrips. Thrips constitute several families of slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. They have become globally important pests, infesting a variety of agriculturally important crops. Species of thrips are difficult to identify due to their small size and similarities in morphology. Recently, in addition to morphology, both molecular and non-molecular taxonomic tools have been used to identify species differences. Insect cuticular hydrocarbons have been widely used in chemotaxonomy. In this study, a Thermal Separation Probe was used to identify the cuticular hydrocarbons of Frankliniella occidentalis , Frankliniella intonsa , Thrips palmi , Thrips hawaiiensis , Haplothrips chinensis and Gynaikothrips ficorum . We analyzed the hydrocarbon composition of adults in all 6 species, and in the larvae of F. occidentali s, T. hawaiiensis and T. palmi . The results showed that the composition of cuticular hydrocarbons differed between species. All 6 species of adults and 3 species of larvae were easily distinguishable by quantitative analysis of hydrocarbon profiles. These results provide a possible method for the identification of thrips.