12 BULLETIN 616, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
HATCHING. 
When ready to hatch, the upper end of the eggshell is broken and 
the larva pushes through. The first impression on watching a larva 
issue from the leaf is that the egg itself, or a minute white worm : 
is being pushed out through the epidermis, the only movement visible 
being a forward one. When the head and thorax 
are free, the larva begins a series of vigorous spiral 
movements which soon liberate the legs and antennae. 
In some instances the antennae retain the folded 
position until the larva has freed itself completely 
from the tissue. When the legs are free the insect 
pushes straight down against the leaf with the third 
fig. 4.— First -in- p a j r f f ee ^ and. alternating with abdominal move- 
star larva of the x . . ' . ° . . 
citrus thrips. ments, brings itself into position to bend forward 
Highly magnified. anc [ c l asp t ] ie l^f. ft t \ len re adily pulls itself OLlt. 
The entire operation requires from 5 to 10 minutes. 
Hatching is not much affected by drying of the leaf or stem tissue. 
Larvae have issued from leaves several days after the latter had be- 
come thoroughly wilted, and from stems as long as 21 days after 
they had been cut from the tree. 
THE LARVA. 
DESCRIPTION. 
First-instar larva. — Just after emergence the larva (fig. 4) is color- 
less and translucent. The head, antenna 3 , mouth parts, and legs are 
disproportionately large, giving it an ungainly ap- 
pearance. The eyes are bright red. The average 
length is 0.26 mm. (about 0.01 inch). The most 
distinctive character of the first-instar larva is the 
narrow, tapering abdomen. In a day or two the 
body becomes suffused with yellow, which gradu- 
ally deepens to orange in the fully developed larva. 
As growth progresses, the head and appendages 
lose their ungainly appearance and become more 
symmetrical, and the abdomen grows plumper and 
less sharply tapering. Shortly before molting to 
the second instar the average length is 0.45 mm. 
/u iaaiv i\ FlG - 5. — Second- 
( about 0.017 inch). instar larva of the 
Second-instar larva. — The second-instar larva citrus tnrips. 
, n k\ • • -i i i x! Highly magnified. 
(ng. 5) is similar in general appearance to the (original.) 
first, except that it is more robust, more densely pigmented, and 
the abdomen is broadly spindle-shaped, tapering gradually from 
the middle segments in both directions. The color varies from light 
yellow to deep orange yellow, and occasionally cream-colored in- 
