Caliothrips quadrifasciatus (Girault)

Rasool, Iftekhar, Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Aldhafer, Hathal M., 2023, Faunistic inventory, identification keys and zoogeographical analysis of the Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of Saudi Arabia, including two new species, Zootaxa 5306 (2), pp. 151-200 : 164-165

Caliothrips quadrifasciatus (Girault)

Sericothrips quadrifasciatus Girault, 1927

An African species, that was described from Australia ( Girault 1927), but is widespread in Eastern Africa, Sudan, India ( Wilson 1975), UAE and Yemen (zur Strassen & van Harten 2008), and is new record for Saudi Arabia. This species is largely associated with Poaceae , and is similar to C. indicus in having markings between the transverse and oblique striations on lateral thirds of abdominal tergites ( Mound & Infante 2017). However, it an be separated from C. indicus by the prominent and closely spaced striations on abdominal sternites, and by transverse and small pore plates of male sternites III–VII (pore plate at III may be reduced). In contrast, C. indicus females have less prominent and widely spaced striations and the male with transverse, broad and arcuate pore plates on sternites III–VII ( Wilson 1975). The fore wing dark bands in the specimens of Saudi Arabia are similar to those described by Bagnall and Cameron (1932), median dark band is completely separated by pale band, making three pale and four dark bands.

Material studied. Al Baha. Thee ain Village, three females, one male from Cenchrus sp. 25.ix.2020, ( BT) ; Qilwah, W. Aleep, 18 females, three males from Cenchrus sp. 25.ix.2020, ( BT) ; Shada Al Aala, six females, one male and one Larvae from Cenchrus sp. , six females, two males from Dactyloctenium aegyptium , 26.ix.2020, ( BT) ; Al Makhwa, Mulail, two females, one male from Cenchrus sp. , 26.ix.2020, ( BT) .