Integrative taxonomy of Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) colour forms in Kenya

Abstract

Frankliniella schultzei Trybom, a key crop pest of French beans and other vegetables, causes worldwide economic losses through direct damage and as a vector of tospoviruses. In Kenya, F. schultzei displays two colour forms (dark and pale) with similar morphological features and overlapping habitats. These differences are undocumented at the morphological, molecular, and biological levels.