''Amynothrips andersoni'' is a species of

thrips Thrips ( order Thysanoptera) are minute (mostly long or less), slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by puncturing and sucking up the contents, although a few are ...

known as alligator weed thrips. It has been used as an agent of

biological pest control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

against the noxious

aquatic plant Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments (saltwater or freshwater). They are also referred to as hydrophytes or macrophytes to distinguish them from algae and other microphytes. A macrophyte is a plant that ...

known as

alligator weed ''Alternanthera philoxeroides'', commonly referred to as alligator weed, is a native species to the temperate regions of South America, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Argentina alone hosts around 27 species that fall with ...

(''Alternanthera philoxeroides''). This thrips is native to South America. It has been imported and released in the United States to feed upon alligator weed. It is now established in much of the southeastern United States. The adult thrips is 2 millimeters long, shiny, and black. A short-winged form and a long-winged flying form exist; the latter is rare. The female lays about 200 eggs during her ninety-day adult lifespan. If the female mates with a male she produces male and female offspring; if she goes unmated, her eggs will all yield male offspring. The eggs are tan ovoids half a millimeter long. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

is tan in its first stage and bright scarlet red in its second. Both larva and adult feed upon the alligator weed, generally on leaf buds and along leaf edges, causing curling of the leaves and stunting of the plant.

References

* Coombs, E. M. et al., Eds. (2004). ''Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States''. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 143.

External links

TAMU Biocontrol Profile

on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site {{Taxonbar, from=Q4749568 Phlaeothripidae Insects used for control of invasive plants Insects described in 1968 Insects of South America