NO. 1590. ON SVME XEW WEST INDIAN TIIRIPS— FRANKLIN. 723 



On each of the third to seventh ventral abdominal plates, inclusive, 

 there is a single round ver}' noticeable median spot or marking of a 

 slightl)^ lighter color than that of the snrroiniding integument lo- 

 cated near the anterior margin of the segment. The abdomen is 

 constricted slightly and broadly in front of the ninth segment. The 

 reticulated areas on the abdomen have about the same arrangement 

 as in the female. 



Described from a single specimen (presumably the type of this sex, 

 as Giard* appears to have described only the female) deposited in the 

 collection of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 



Specimens taken on St. Vincent Island, British West Indies, on 

 cacao and kola. Found in colonies on leaves and flowers. 



Larca. — At least in their later stages the larv« are bright yellow 

 with a wide bright red hypodermal pigment band running across the 

 base of the abdomen on the upperside and with the abdomen tipped 

 with bright red on account of the hypodermal pigment. The pos- 

 terior corners of some of the intervening segments are also often 

 touched slightly with red. Head also usually irregularly mottled 

 more or less, especially about the eyes with reddish or orange pig- 

 ment. 



Mature nymph. — Length, about 0.92 mm.; width of thorax, about 

 0.27 mm. ; greatest width of abdomen, about 0.37 mm. Colored in 

 general like the adult insect but lighter as a rule, especially the abdo- 

 men ; the band of red pigment at the base of the abdomen is quite 

 noticeable. Shape more chunky than that of the adult, the segments 

 of the body being drawn closely together. Wings rather darker than 

 in adult. Red pigment at apex of abdomen conspicuous. The wing- 

 pads reach to about the seventh segment. 



This species was originally described by Giard as Physop'iis riihro- 

 cincta, but its structure places it very clearly in the genus Heliothrips. 

 It is a great j)est on cacao in the West Indies, having been reported 

 from Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. It is said to 

 have the cashew tree, the guava, and the Liberian coffee among its 

 food plants. While apparently closely allied it does not seem to be 

 the same species of Thrips, which has been reported as injurious to 

 cacao in Ceylon. The following references concerning this insect are 

 important : 



1. Giard, A., Bull. Soc. de France, 1901, pp. 263-265. (Original description.) 



2. West Indian Bulletin, II, 1901, pp. 175-180. (Figs. 1, 2.) (Treatment dis- 

 cussed. ) 



3. West Indian Bulletin, II, 1901, pp. 288-289. 



4. Ballon, H. A., West Indian Bulletin, VI, 1906. pp. 94-97. 



5. Elot, A., Compt. Keud, Soc. Biol. Paris, LIX, pp. 100-102. 



