Frankie
Franklinothrips vespiformis
Overview
Franklinothrips vespiformis (Frankie) naturally occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Australia.
It is unique in several aspects. It is much larger than a typical thrips (2.5-3mm long) and looks like an ant or wasp. The larvae and pupae are bright red. The larvae pupate on the leaf surface inside silk cocoons and the female has pronounced ant-like behaviours. They complete most of their lifecycle on the foliage of the host plant.
Frankie feeds on all thrips life stages, as well as spider mites and other small arthropods such as whitefly nymphs. They can survive on pollen.
Pests Frankie can help you control
Frankie is being trialled for the control of Chilli Thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) in a range of horticultural crops including blueberries, capsicums, and strawberries. It is also a promising candidate for controlling Greenhouse Thrips (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis) in conjunction with Thripobius javae (Thripobius).
Frankie is known to feed on other foliar thrips such as Poinsettia Thrips (Echinothrips americanus), Taiwanese Thrips (Thrips parvispinus), Banana Rust Thrips (Chaetanaphothrips leeuweni) and Orchid Thrips (C. orchidii). It also preys on Western Flower Thrips.
How Frankie controls pests among crops
Frankie adults are 99% female. Adults and larvae directly prey on all life stages of thrips. Adult females lay up to 7 eggs per day, and kill up to 20 juvenile thrips and 10 adult thrips per day. Frankie females live for 30 days and lay about 300 eggs during their lifetime. For best results, release Frankie as soon as thrips are observed.
Combine Frankie with Orius, Cucumeris, Lailae, Montdorensis, Hypoaspis and Dalotia for optimum effect. Where Greenhouse Thrips are present, include Thripobius in your release program.
How you can order Frankie
You can order Frankie in biodegradable cups containing 1,000 adults per cup.
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