Original reference: Priesner H (1936) Über einige neue wenig bekannte Thysanopteren. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London 5: 208–214.
Body dark brown, with tarsi and apices of tibiae yellow, fore wings brown with pale base. Antennal segments III and IV with narrowed apex and forked sense cones. Pronotum bearing transversal lines of sculpture, with no long setae; metanotum with transverse sculpture. Tergite VIII with a complete comb of long microtrichia.
Male not studied.
Intraspecific variation
Not recorded.
Genus and similar species information
Dichromothrips has 18 species found in the Old World tropics, living in several orchids. Possibly related to the genus Taeniothrips, which is more commonly found in leaves. The speciesD. corbetti is a potential invader in the American continent, and is differentiated from the other species of the genus for the lack of long posteroangular setae on pronotum. A key for 14 of the species of Dichromothrips can be found in Mound (1976).
World distribution
Originated from Southesat Asia, it is now reported from Australia, Europe, Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Brazil.
Breeds on a variety of Orchidaceae as Ascocenda, Cattleya, Cymdidium, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis e Vanda. In Brazil was recorded feeding on Vanda, Aranda and Mokara.
Economic importance
Causes chlorosis and necrosis on flowers of ornamental orchids.
