Thrips simplex (Morison)

Mound, Laurence A., 2010, Species of the Genus Thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from the Afro-tropical Region, Zootaxa 2423, pp. 1-24 : 15

Thrips simplex (Morison)

Physothrips simplex Morison, 1930: 12

Taeniothrips quinani Moulton, 1936: 506

Four synonyms are listed under this species ( Mound, 2010), and of these T. quinani was based on a series of specimens from South Africa collected in the flowers of a vine. The Gladiolus Thrips is now found worldwide, but presumably originated in southern Africa in association with the extensive Iridaceae flora of that area.

Diagnosis. Body and legs dark brown, tarsi and antennal segment III paler; forewings brown, base paler. Antennae 8-segmented. Ocellar setae III small, just inside ocellar triangle; postocular setae pair II minute. Pronotum with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae, external pair slightly shorter than inner pair. Metanotum reticulate, reticles elongate on posterior half, with faint sculptured internal markings ( Fig. 52 ); median setae short, behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent. Forewing first vein usually with 7 setae on distal half. Tergite VIII comb complete but slightly irregular; pleurotergites without discal setae, with rows of coarsely ciliate microtrichia; sternite II with 1 or 2 discal setae, III–VII with about 12 discal setae in single row.

Figures

FIGURES 44 – 56. Thrips species. (44) quadridentatus, paralectotype metanotum. (45) quilici, paratype metanotum. (46) rufescens, paratype metanotum. (47) rufescens, paratype tergite VIII. (48) quilici, paratype tergite VIII. (49) solari, holotype head & pronotum. (50) solari, mesonotum & metanotum. (51) solari, tergites VII – VIII. (52) simplex, metanotum. (53) tenellus, sternites VI – VII. (54) tabaci, pleurotergite. (55) subnudula, sternites VI – VII. (56) subnudula, tergites VII – VIII.