Elaphrothrips handlirschii (Schmutz, 1909: 273).

Original reference: Schmutz K (1909) Zur Kenntnis einiger neuen Thysanopterengenera (Tubulifera). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 23: 273–281.

Family

Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae

Nomenclatural information 

https://thrips.info/wiki/Elaphrothrips_handlirschii 

Diagnosis

Female macropterous; body color mainly dark brown, with tarsi, base of antennomeres III–VI and apex of tube paler; wings hyaline, with brown median line. Antennae 8-segmented, III longer than the other segments. Head longer than wide, weakly constricted behind eyes, slightly projected ahead of eyes; dorsal surface with two pairs of long setae (ocellar and postocular), other dorsal setae short; cheeks with stout and short setae; eyes large, not projected ventrally. Pronotum with only the epimeral and posteroangular pairs of setae elongate, remaining setae short; prosternal basantra present. Metanotum reticulated, with one pair of short median setae. Metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Pelta reticulated, triangular and broad, basal angles curved upwards. Abdominal tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae and several smaller accessory setae. Tube cone-shaped, about 3.7x as long as basal width, without lateral setae. All legs similar in appearance, with many setae, fore tarsi without a tooth. Fore wings with about 40 duplicated cilia.

Male macropterous. Similar to female but with enlarged fore legs and a well developed tarsal tooth. Pore plates absent.

Macho macróptero. Similar às fêmea mas com pernas anteriores robustas e dente tarsal bem desenvolvido. Placas porosas ausentes.

Intraspecific variation

Unknown.

Genus and similar species information

Elaphrothrips is the Idolothripinae genus with the most described species, with almost 150 species widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. These thrips are usually large and dark-colored, distinguished from other Brazilian Idolothripinae (except Saurothrips) for having two pairs of wing-retaining setae on the abdominal tergites; in larger specimens, many accessory setae may be present in addition to the main wing-retaining pairs. Besides that, they have elongated head, major ocellar setae posterior to the anterior ocellus, basantra present, and tube shorter than the head, without lateral setae. Many species have high morphological diversity associated to size, wing-development and sex, which makes the distinction between species harder; and it is possible that many species in the genus will be identified as synonyms in the future.

Distribution around the world

Described from Brazil.

Distribution in Brazil

http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/fauna/faunadobrasil/36637 

Life history

Lives in dead leaves, where it feeds on fungal spores.

Economic importance

Not recorded.

Suggested references

Schmutz K (1909) Zur Kenntnis einiger neuen Thysanopterengenera (Tubulifera). Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien 23: 273–281.

Palmer JM & Mound LA (1978) Nine genera of fungus-feeding Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera) from the Oriental Region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 37: 153-215.

Mound LA & Palmer JM (1983) The generic and tribal classification of spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 1–174.

Marques GA & Cavalleri A (2021) Elaphrothrips handlirschii (Schmutz) comb. n., with notes on Thysanoptera types from Brazil described by Karl Schmutz. Zootaxa 5039(3): 443–446.