Thrips species (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated to Fabaceae of agricultural importance in Cerrado and Amazon-Caatinga ecotone from Brazilian Mid-North

Abstract

Little is known about the Thysanoptera fauna from Brazilian Mid-North. In spite of being a region with at least three biomes and some ecotones, the studies on this insect order in the region are related to associations to a few cultivated plant species. On Fabaceae, plant family with the second largest number of records of thrips species associated in Brazil and huge economic importance for Mid-North, there are thrips records only on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Due to the lack of knowledge on the Thysanoptera fauna in such a diverse area and the importance of crops of this family in the region, this research aimed to survey the thrips species associated to Fabaceae of agricultural importance in areas of Cerrado and Amazon-Caatinga ecotone in Brazilian Mid-North, as well as provide basic biological information about damage and hosts. Also, comparison between the Thysanoptera fauna of fabaceous crops in the region and the rest of the Country and a key to species are presented. Thrips were collected on six fabaceous crops in four municipalities in the state of Maranhão and in one municipality in the state of Piauí. Eight thrips species were identified: Caliothrips phaseoli (Pergande, 1895), Frankliniella brevicaulis Hood, 1937, F. gardeniae Moulton, 1948, F. insularis (Franklin, 1908), F. schultzei (Trybom, 1910), F. tritici (Fitch, 1855), Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin, 1908) and Salpingothrips minimus Hood, 1935. Two other unidentified species were collected: Plesiothrips sp. and Scolothrips sp. Except for F. schultzei, the thrips species surveyed in Maranhão are first records in the state, and F. gardeniae is first record in the state of Piauí. The first records of thrips on Phaseolus lunatus L. in Brazil were established. Some species known as pests of Fabaceae mostly in southern and southeastern Brazil were not found in Mid-North. Voucher-specimens are deposited at the Entomological Collection of the Department of Entomology and Acarology, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de São Paulo (ESALQ/USP).