Thrips simplex (Morison)

Mound, Laurence A. & Masumoto, Masami, 2005, The genus Thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand, Zootaxa 1020 (1), pp. 1-64 : 49-50

Thrips simplex (Morison)

Physothrips simplex Morison, 1930: 12

Physothrips spiranthidis plurisetae Girault, 1933: 2

Diagnosis: Female with body and legs dark brown, tarsi and antennal segment III yellowish brown; forewings brown with base paler. Head wider than long, ocellar setae pair III small and arising just inside anterior margins of ocellar triangle; postocular setae pairs I & III slightly longer than ocellar setae III, pair II minute. Antennae 8­segmented, III & IV slightly constricted at apex with forked sense cone. Pronotum with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae of which the external pair is slightly shorter than the inner pair; posterior margin with 3 or 4 pairs of setae. Metanotum (Fig. 88) reticulate medially, reticles elongate on posterior half, with faint sculptured markings inside most reticles; median setae short and arising behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent. Forewing first vein with about 7 setae on distal half, second vein with about 14 setae; clavus with 5 marginal setae. Tergite II with 3 lateral marginal setae; posterior margin of tergite VIII with complete but slightly irregular comb of microtrichia; pleurotergites without discal setae, sculptured with rows of coarsely ciliate microtrichia. Sternite II with 2 pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with 3 pairs, VII with median pair arising in front of margin; II with 1 or 2 discal setae, III–VII with about 12 discal setae in single row.

Male smaller than female but similar in colour; tergite VIII with no posteromarginal comb; tergite IX S1setae arising anterior to line joining bases of S2 setae; sternites III–VII each with large transverse glandular area, discal setae arising laterally.

Breeding: The gladiolus thrips breeds particularly on Gladiolus flowers and leaves, sometimes causing streaking, but it can also be common on other Iridaceae such as Crocosmia and Neomarica .

Distribution: Presumably originating from South Africa, this species is now found wherever Gladiolus plants are cultivated, in both temperate and tropical regions.

Relationships: No species are known that might be considered a close relative, but the fauna of Thrips genus in Africa, where T. simplex originated, is poorly known.