Plicothrips Bhatti

Dang, Li-Hong, Mound, Laurence A. & Qiao, Ge-Xia, 2014, Conspectus of the Phlaeothripinae genera from China and Southeast Asia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3807 (1), pp. 1-82 : 65

Plicothrips Bhatti

( Fig. 69 )

Plicothrips Bhatti, 1979: 306 . Type species: Hindsiana apicalis Bagnall , by original designation.

Only two species are included in this genus, one from Sudan and the other described from India. However, the latter species, apicalis Bagnall , is known from Thailand and Taiwan, and is here newly recorded from mainland China, in Yunnan. Plicothrips is close related to the worldwide genus Haplothrips , and is distinguished by the presence of only one pair of well-developed wing-retaining setae on abdominal tergites III–VI ( Fig. 69 ), and the fore wings with the basal third constricted. More than 100 specimens of apicalis have been examined from Yunnan, and the wing-retaining setae are highly variable among these specimens. Most have only the second pair of wingretaining setae well-developed, but some have the anterior pair well-developed on one or all of tergites III–VI. Specimens from Thailand in ANIC also have the anterior pair of wing-retaining setae present but small. The genus Plicothrips probably represents two slightly unusual, grass-living species of Haplothrips .

Diagnosis: Head longer than wide; eyes normal, postocular setae well-developed; stylets usually retracted to postocular setae, V-shaped with long maxillary bridge; antennae 8-segmented, III with 1 sensorium, IV with 4; pronotum with 5 pairs of developed setae, sometimes am reduced, notopleural sutures complete; basantra present; mesopresternum eroded medially; sternopleural sutures absent; fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes; fore wings weakly constricted medially, without duplicated cilia; pelta slightly triangular; tergites II–VII usually with 1 pair of wing-retaining setae ( Fig. 69 ), sometimes with 2; tube with straight sides, slightly shorter than head, anal setae longer than tube; male sternite VIII without pore plate.

Figures

FIGURES 66–70. Phlaeothripinae genera. Head & pronotum 66–67: (66) Horistothrips australiae; (67) Liothrips vaneeckei. (68) Phylladothrips pictus, tergites VII–X; (69) Plicothrips apicalis, tergites III–VI; (70) Leeuwenia karnyiana, male tegites VI–X.