Arorathrips Bhatti

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064 (1), pp. 1-40 : 13

Arorathrips Bhatti

( Figs 23–24 )

This New World genus currently includes eight species, but several other species described in Chirothrips should be transferred here ( Mound & Marullo, 1996). These species are distinguished by the reduction of the metasternal furca, such that the furcal pits are widely separated not close together medially ( Fig. 24 ). One of these species, A. mexicanus , is now widespread on grasses throughout the tropics and subtropics, and Mound & Palmer (1972) provided an illustrated account, under the generic name Chirothrips , of the two Arorathrips species known from Australia ( A. mexicanus and A. spiniceps ). Larvae of species in these genera apparently always develop each within a single grass floret, and the few larvae that have been examined have such small legs that they seem to be effectively immobile.

Figures

FIGURES 23 – 30. Grass living Thripinae. Arorathrips mexicanus 23 – 24: (23) head & thorax; (24) meso & metasterna. (25) Chirothrips manicatus, meso & metasterna. Bolacothrips striatopennatus 26 – 30: (26 – 28) tergites I – II, females from Mt Coottha, Brisbane; (29) tergites I – II, female from Thailand; (30) tergites VII – VIII, female from Thailand.