Original reference: Bagnall RS (1918) Brief descriptions of new Thysanoptera IX. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (9)1: 201–221. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222931808562303
Haplothrips is one of the richest genera in Thysanoptera, with around 250 species distributed across the world, but especially in temperate areas of the northern hemisphere. Most of the species live in flowers, but some are recorded predating small arthropods. Haplothrips belongs to tribe Haplothripini, which contains about 30 genera, with species having medially constricted forewings, maxillary bridge and a well-developed basantra. It has several similarities to Karnyothrips, but both genera are distinguished from each other by the number of sense cones on antennomere IV (3 in Karnyothrips, 4 in Haplothrips) and the fore tarsi (without a tarsal tooth in Haplothrips, with a curved tarsal tooth in Karnyothrips).
The species in Haplothrips are divided between two subgenera: those with duplicated cilia in the fore wings are placed in Haplothrips (Haplothrips), and those without such cilia belong to Haplothrips (Trybomiella). Haplothrips robustus belongs to the second subgenus, together with H. fiebrigi and H. trellesi. It is distinguished from H. fiebrigi for having the maxillary stylets slightly less than half of head width apart; and from H. trellesi for having the midlateral pronotal setae very reduced. A key to the species of Haplothrips from Central and South America is available in Cavalleri et al. 2016.
Distribution around the world
Described from Adelaide, Australia. Distributed in tropical and subtropical countries.
Phytophagous species, lives on flowers of a wide range of plants.
Economic importance
Referred damaging lettuce, Lactuca sativa, in New Mexico, USA (O’Neill, 1960).
Suggested references
Cavalleri, A, Lindner, MF & Mendonça Jr, M de S (2016) New Neotropical Haplothripini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) with a key to Central and South American genera. Journal of Natural History 50: 1389–1410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2015.1113316
Mound LA & Marullo R (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International 6: 1–488.
O'Neill K (1960) Identification of the newly introduced Phlaeothripid Haplothrips ?clarisetis Priesner (Thysanoptera). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 53(4): 507–510. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/53.4.507
Published in: 03/05/2018 Posted by: Mariana Lindner
