Developmental and Reproductive Biology of a Predatory Franklinothrips n. sp. (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae)

p K h b t m r s w n o 1 1 1 t w w i b b L L a The developmental and reproductive biology of a ew species of predatory Franklinothrips was deterined in the laboratory at three constant temperaures. At the intermediate experimental temperature 25°C), Franklinothrips n. sp. exhibited the greatest arval to adult survivorship, and mated females prouced more progeny of which a greater proportion ere female when compared to individuals reared at 0 and 30°C. Analysis of jackknife estimates of net eproduction (Ro), generation times (Tc), intrinsic rate f increase (rm), and finite rate of increase (l) were all ignificantly greater at 25°C than corresponding vales at 20 and 30°C. Population doubling time (Td) was ignificantly lower at 25°C, indicating that population rowth is approximately 50% faster at this temperaure than at 20 and 30°C. Unmated female Frankliothrips n. sp. produce only male offspring, confirming rrhenotoky in this species. At 30°C, 15% of larvae ailed to produce silk pupation cocoons and propupal nd pupal stages were observed for cocoonless indiiduals. This result indicates that Franklinothrips n. p. has two pupal stages, contradicting earlier speculaions about the pupal biology of this genus. Furtherore, at 30°C, 13% of mated females and 33% of unated females failed to produce viable eggs when eared and maintained at this temperature. r 2000