Haplothrips kurdjumovi Karny

Mound, Laurence A. & Matsunaga, Janis N., 2017, The species of Haplothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) and related genera recorded from the Hawaiian Islands, ZooKeys 662, pp. 79-92 : 85

Haplothrips kurdjumovi Karny

Remarks.

Described from Russia and widespread in Central Europe across Asia, this species is also introduced to North America and New Zealand ( Minaei and Mound 2008). It appears to have been first identified from Hawaii in 2011, but in July 2016 considerable numbers of females were found at Volcano on Carex inflorescences as well as in the flowers of Pyracantha and Rubus . Moreover, two females were collected on Oahu at Palikea and the Mokuleia Trail. In the field it is easily mistaken for gowdeyi , because of the dark legs and almost clear yellow of antennal segments III–VI. Under a stereo microscope it is clear that antennal segment III is longer than wide and slightly asymmetric (Fig. 21), and on slide mounted specimens the presence of only a single sense cone on this segment can be confirmed. The species is reported to be a predator of mites and Lepidoptera eggs, but probably also feeds on floral tissues.