Aeolothrips melaleucus (HALIDAY)

Minaei, K., 2014, New record of predatory thrips, Aeolothrips melaleucus (Thysanoptera, Aeolothripidae) from Iran, Linzer biologische Beiträge 46 (1), pp. 637-642 : 638-639

Aeolothrips melaleucus (HALIDAY)

Coleothrips melaleuca HALIDAY, 1852: 1117.

D i a g n o s i s Female macroptera. Body and legs brown, antennal segments III yellow, IV variable in color, yellow in basal quarter to half or almost entirely yellow ( Fig. 1A ); forewing posterior half dark after clavus to apex with two transverse dark bands ( Fig. 1D ). Antennal segment III with linear sensorium about 0.3 as long as segment, IV with linear sensorium 0.4 as long as segment and a little curved and wider at the apex. Tergite IX setae S1 about as long as length of tergite; sternite VII with 2 pairs of supernumerary setae arranged one in front of the other arising well in front of margin ( Fig. 1E ).

Male with colour and structure generally similar to female but paler and smaller. Tergites IV-V with paired tubercles ( Fig. 1F ); tergite IX with stout curved seta and non-bifurcate clasper ( Fig. 1G ).

D i s t r i b u t i o n Canada ( PUTMAN 1942), Britain ( MOUND et al. 1976); Europe ( ZUR STRASSEN 2003); USA (HODDLE et al. 2012); Turkey ( TUNC et al. 2012); Iran. M a t e r i a l s t u d i e d:1, IRAN, Fars Province, Khafr, from apple tree (Malus damestica),

15.iv.2008 ( KM 59 ) ; 4 1, Fars Province, Mohr, Heraj, from bean caper (Zygophyllum sp.),

3.iv.2013 (M. Abdolahi).

C o m m e n t s: In most Iranian Aeolothrips species , posterior margin of forewing is pale medially between two dark cross bands whereas in four species, A. eremicola PRIESNER , A. melaleucus and A. versicolor and A. wittmeri PRIESNER posterior margin of forewing is dark except at the base and apex ( Figs 1D , 2C ). However, A. eremicola and A. wittmeri are distinguished from melaleucus and versicolor by the narrow form of the band along the fore wing posterior margin between the two cross bands, in contrast to the other two species that have a wider band. A. melaleucus is readily distinguish from A. versicolor in both sexes. In the females, head is prolonged in A. versicolor (versus without prolongation in A. melaleucus ) ( Figs 1B , 2A ). Furthermore, all tibiae are brown in A. melaleucus in contrast to A. versicolor which is pale in the distal part of all tibiae ( Figs 1C , 2B ). In the male sex, tergites are without tubercles and tergite IX has no claspers and stout curved setae in A. versicolor whereas tergites IV-V have paired tubercles and tergite IX with stout curved seta and non-bifurcate clasper ( Figs 1F, 1G ).

Figures

Fig. 1: Aeolothrips melaleucus, female (A) antenna; (B) head; (C) leg; (D) forewing; (E) sternites VI-VII; male (F) tergites IV-VII; (G) tergite IX.

Fig. 2: Aeolothrips versicolor, female (A) head; (B) leg; (C) forewing.