Thrips microchaetus Karny

Mound, Laurence A., 2010, Species of the Genus Thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from the Afro-tropical Region, Zootaxa 2423, pp. 1-24 : 11

Thrips microchaetus Karny

Thrips microchaetus Karny 1920: 27 Thrips banicus zur Strassen, 1968: 52

This species appears to be widespread across the northern part of the Afro-tropical region. It was described from Sudan, and the synonym from Morocco, but has been seen from Kenya, Egypt, Israel and Yemen (zur Strassen, 2003). In structure it is particularly similar to T. tenellus from South Africa, but females lack the dark tergal markings of that species, and the metanotum appears to be more closely striate.

Diagnosis. Body and legs yellow, antennal segments IV–V with apex brown, VI–VII brown; forewings uniformly pale. Antennae 7-segmented. Ocellar setae III outside ocellar triangle. Pronotum with transverse lines of sculpture and about 40 discal setae. Metanotum with transverse lines at anterior, almost longitudinally striate on posterior half, median setae not at anterior margin ( Fig. 31 ); campaniform sensilla present and close together. Forewing first vein with three distal setae. Abdominal tergite VIII with complete comb. Sternites with 30 or more discal setae arranged irregularly; pleurotergites with 6 or more discal setae ( Fig. 32 ).

Figures

FIGURES 31 – 43. Thrips species. (31) microchaetus, mesonotum & metanotum. (32) microchaetus, sternites VI – VII. (33) nigropilosus, metanotum. (34) nigropilosus, tergites II – IV. (35) orientalis, metanotum. (36) orientalis, tergite VIII. (37) palmi, metanotum. (38) parvispinus, metanotum. (39) parvispinus, sternites VI – VII. (40) pretiosus, metanotum. (41) priesneri, pronotum. (42) priesneri, metanotum. (43) pusillus, metanotum.