Octothrips bhatti (Wilson)

Wang, Chin-Ling, 2008, A new synonym and two new records for Taiwan of Thripidae related to Trichromothrips (Thysanoptera), Zootaxa 1941 (1), pp. 67-68 : 68

Octothrips bhatti (Wilson)

Apollothrips bhatti Wilson, 1972: 52–54 .

Octothrips lygodii Mound, 2002: 219–220 . new synonym.

Female (macropterous): Body light brown, color of abdomen and antennae variable. Antennal segments light brown, III–IV uniformly light brown or with apical portion yellow. Forewing brown; all legs yellow. Abdominal tergites II–VIII with dark brown antecostal ridges, tergites all brown to median 1/3 brown but yellow laterally. Head and pronotum with dense sculpture, cheeks shorter than eyes; interocellar setae arise between front and hind ocelli. Pronotum with one pair of posteroangular setae, 4 pairs of inner posteromarginal setae. Mesonotum with dense sculpture; median pair of setae situated in front of submedian pairs. Metanotal sculpture of longitudinal reticles; median setae posterior to anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent. Forewing first vein with 2 distal setae, second vein setal row complete. Abdominal tergites II–VIII with median and lateral sculpture, VIII without posterior marginal comb.

Male: Similar to female; abdomen with 50–70 small pale circular glandular areas on sternites III–VII.

Specimens examined: Taiwan, Hualien, 22 females, 2 males, on Nephrolepis , 22.ix.1993. Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, University of Malaya, vii.2006, 2 females, 2 males from Lygodium , India, holotype female, allotype male of Apollothrips bhatti on Nephrolepis sp. , 24.xi.1969.

Remarks: This species is now known from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Japan. Bhatti (2003) used three characteristics in his key to separate bhattii and lygodii : shape and length of split on tergite X, body colour, and sternal glandular areas of males. However, among the specimens listed above no differences were found, either in tergite X or in the body colour. The glandular areas on the sternites of the male allotype of bhatti are difficult to see, but appear to be the same as in lygodii , and these two are therefore considered the same species.