Rita Marullo

The Erythrothrips complex of tropical Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera) with new taxa from Australia and South Africa

The New World genus Erythrothrips is redefined and a key to the species provided. A new genus and species, Erythridothrips cubilis, is described from Australian tropical rain-forest. The South African genus Audiothrips is withdrawn from synonymy with Erythrothrips and a new species, A. senckenbergiana, is described. The sole African species in the American genus Stomatothrips is transferred to the African genus Allelothrips. The relationships of these taxa are discussed, together with reasons for questioning the validity of the tribe Orothripini.

The greenhouse thrips, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis , and its generic relationships within the subfamily Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The subfamily Panchaetothripinae, comprising 35 genera and 98 species, includes several pest species of which the most notorious is the greenhouse thrips, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis. In an attempt to establish the sister-group of Heliothrips, the relationships of this genus to 31 of the other genera in the subfamily were examined cladistically, using 35 parsimony-informative morphological characters. The analysis indicated that there was no support for two of the three tribes into which this subfamily is customarily arranged, the Monilothripini and the Panchaetothripini, but weak support for the tribe Tryphactothripini. No clear sister-group relationship could be identified for the New World genus Heliothrips, although it grouped with three old world genera Australothrips, Retithrips and Rhipiphorothrips. It is concluded that a morphological data set is not capable of producing a robust phylogeny of the Panchaetothripinae, and that the subject requires re-examination using molecular data.

Quick detection of resistant phenotypes with high esterase activity in two species of aphids (Homoptera, Aphididae)

A qualitative filter paper test to determine total esterase activity in individual aphids was applied to sensitive and resistant strains of two aphid species selected in the laboratory and in the field. Increased esterase activity was found in two aphid species subjected to selection by two different types of insecticides, an organophosphorous compound and a carbamate. Sensitive aphids of boths species always gave faint spots while those of resistant ones were much darker. The test is simple and quick; it requires minimum equipment and can be performed under field conditions, too.

Gall thrips of the Austro-Pacific genus Euoplothrips Hood (Thysanoptera), with a new species from Australia

The members of Euoplothrips are probably all kleptoparasites on various gall-inducing thrips. A new species of the genus, E. platypodae, is described from Gynaikothrips leaf galls on Ficus platypoda in Western Australia. Three different species from Tonga, Samoa and the Solomon Islands are each known from leaf galls on Ficus. In contrast, the eastern Australian species E. bagnalli is recorded from the leaf galls of other thrips on Smilax australis and Alyxia spicata. E. armatus Moulton from Papua New Guinea is included as a further synonym of E. bagnalli. A key is provided to distinguish these five species. E. malabarica is also included although it is known only from the original description and is probably not congeneric.

The first micropterous species of the southern European genus Kakothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The European genus Kakothrips Williams includes seven species (ThripsWiki 2015) that are known to be flower-living mainly on Fabaceae plants. The genus is recorded across Europe from Morocco to England, and eastwards to Syria and Iran (zur Strassen 2003). Only K. pisivorus (Westwood) is known from northern Europe, and this is the senior synonym of the type species K. robustus (Uzel) (Collins 2010). Closely related to Frankliniella, the species share with the members of that genus the character states of ctenidia present on tergite VIII anterolateral to the spiracles, and a complete row of setae on both longitudinal veins of the fore wing. Also, the pronotal anteromarginal and anteroangular setae are half as long as the posteroangular setae. The character states of the genus Kakothrips include: ocellar setae pair III arising between posterior ocelli; fore tarsus with an apical tooth, laterally; pronotal posterior margin without a pair of small setae between the major posteromarginal setae. In some of the species the males bear a pair of stout tubercles laterally on tergite VIII, and sternites III-VI or III-VII of males have a transverse pore plate. All the described species are known only from macropterae, and they are similar to each other in structure. A few distinguishing characters include colour of body, fore wings and antennal segments; the shape, length and position of the fore tarsal tooth; size of body, antennal segments, and major setae; and in males, shape of sternal pore plates, and length of setae on tergite IX.

NEXOTHRIPS: A NEW GENUS OF THRIPINE THYSANOPTERA (INSECTA) FROM THE NEOTROPICS, AND ITS PALEOTROPICAL FAUNAL AFFINITIES

Abstract A new genus, Nexothrips, with two new species, N. delclaroi and N. perseae, is described from South America. The systematic position of this genus, and its relationships to the paleotropical Rhamphothrips genus-group, are discussed. A key is provided to the two new species, one of which was taken on Persea flowers in Colombia, the other from Hortia flowers in Brazil.

Possible Dissemination of Pest Fungi by Thrips

Thysanoptera in leaf litter were studied in forest and mixed cereals, in the Mountain Community of Lagonegro (Basilicata, Potenza Province, Italy). Living conidia of Fusarium moniliforme were extracted from the gut of Hoplothrips pedicularius in Quercus and Fagus sylvatica litter. A survey of Chirothrips manicatus, Limothrips denticornis and Stenothrips graminum on cereals during spring and summer showed the presence of living spores and conidia in the gut of adults. These were extracted and reared in Petri dishes on potato-dextrose agar media. Colonies of Cladosporium herbarum, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium spp. were obtained.