Thrips palmi Karny

Mound, Laurence A. & Masumoto, Masami, 2005, The genus Thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand, Zootaxa 1020 (1), pp. 1-64 : 41-42

Thrips palmi Karny

Thrips palmi Karny, 1925: 10

Diagnosis: Body and legs yellow, major setae light brown; antennal segments IV & V brown distally, VI & VII brown; forewings pale. Head wider than long, ocellar setae pair III small and arising just outside ocellar triangle; postocular setae pair I slightly longer than ocellar setae III ( Fig. 72 ). Antennae 7­segmented, III & IV slightly constricted at apex, VII short. Pronotum with 2 pairs of long postero­angular setae, posterior margin with 3 pairs of setae. Metanotum with irregular longitudinal lines converging to posterior margin, with curving transverse lines at anterior ( Fig. 73 ); median setae arising behind anterior margin, campaniform sensilla present. Forewing first vein with 3 (or 2) setae on distal half, second vein with row of about 15 setae. Tergite II with 4 lateral marginal setae; posterior margin of tergite VIII with complete comb of long slender microtrichia ( Fig. 74 ); pleurotergites without discal setae. Sternite II with 2 pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with 3 pairs, median pair on VII arising in front of margin; sternites without discal setae.

Male smaller than female; tergite VIII with marginal comb complete medially; sternites III–VII with narrow transverse glandular area.

Breeding: This serious crop pest and Tospovirus vector is highly polyphagous in the flowers and on the leaves of many plants, including cucurbitaceous and solanaceous crops ( Murai, 2002).

Distribution: Originally from South East Asia, this species became widespread in tropical countries during the final 30 years of the 20 th century, presumably transported by the horticultural trade. In Australia it was first recorded near Darwin, but is also a pest of potatoes in south­eastern Queensland. The distribution in Australia appears to be limited by the prevailing aridity in much of the northern part of the continent.

Relationships: Although very similar to T. flavus Schrank , a common Holarctic species, T. palmi has ocellar setae pair III close together behind the first ocellus and within the ocellar triangle.

Figures

FIGURES 72–83. Thrips species. T. palmi 72–74: (72) Head & pronotum; (73) Meso­metanota; (74) Tergites VI–VIII. T. parvispinus 75–76: (75) Meso­metanota; (76) Sternites V–VII. T. phormiicola 77–79: (77) Head & pronotum; (78) Meso­metanota; (79) sternites II–III. T. seticollis 80–83: (80) Meso­metanota; (81) Pronotum; (82) Tergites VI–VIII; (83) fore tarsus.