Research Article |
Corresponding author: Laurence Mound ( laurence.mound@csiro.au ) Academic editor: Pavel Stoev
© 2016 Laurence Mound, Sueo Nakahara, Dick M. Tsuda.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Mound L, Nakahara S, Tsuda DM (2016) Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of the Hawaiian Islands: an identification manual. ZooKeys 549: 71-126. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.549.6889
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An illustrated identification system is presented to 99 species and 49 genera in three families recorded from the Hawaiian Islands in the Thysanoptera suborder Terebrantia. Only seven (possibly eight) of these species are considered endemic, the remainder being adventive to these islands. The only previous study of Hawaiian Thysanoptera, by Zimmerman in 1948, included 47 Terebrantia species in 21 genera.
Thysanoptera , Terebrantia , identification keys, Hawaiian Islands, endemics, adventives
This paper derives from a 200 page un-illustrated typescript prepared by Steve Nakahara some years prior to his retirement in 1998 from work on thrips. His co-author, Dick Tsuda, sent that typescript to Laurence Mound in June 2015, and in the absence of funding to complete such an extensive work, this annotated identification manual was prepared in Canberra, Australia. Records of taxa from particular Hawaiian Islands are copied from the original typescript.
This account of the Thysanoptera-Terebrantia known from the Hawaiian Islands includes 99 species, of which only seven (or possibly eight) are considered endemic and over 90 species are considered adventive from other parts of the world. The obvious conclusion from these numbers is, either the native thrips fauna of Hawaii is particularly small, or collecting activity for thrips associated with the native flora is inadequate. The data provided here thus contribute little to our understanding of island biogeography, but emphasise two matters of considerable importance to plant quarantine and plant protection: 1, that thrips are particularly prone to dispersal through commercial activities, especially the horticultural trade in live plants which harbor undetected thrips contaminants, and 2, that Hawaii is particularly susceptible to such invaders because almost half of the 1800 established flowering plant species are non-native (
General information about Thysanoptera including identification systems are available on several web-sites, including
About 50% of Thysanoptera species feed only on fungi that develop on dead leaves, twigs and branches of woody higher plants (
An important aspect of the biology of thrips is the identity of the plants on which individual species can maintain populations, although this relationship can be difficult to establish (
Given that the only recorded endemic Hawaiian Terebrantia are seven described species of Neurisothrips, and possibly one species of Projectothrips, the origin of the remaining 90 species is of considerable plant protection interest. At least 50 of these species are found widely around the world. For these, the country in which they originally evolved is probably of limited importance when considering invasion pathways. Such species could have reached Hawaii from any part of their disrupted distribution, although
The members of this Order of insects are known as thrips. This word is a plural noun, such that whether “two thrips” or just “one thrips”, the word thrips remains unchanged in the same way that the word sheep is both singular and plural. The word thrips is a Greek word for woodworm, because many of the early records of these insects referred to fungus-feeding species that live on dead branches. Thrips are slender, elongate insects, usually flattened dorso-ventrally, and the adults range from 0.5 to 15.0 mm in length. Adults and larvae are unusual amongst insects in having only a single mandible, the left one, because the right mandible is resorbed early in development. The other character state of thrips that is almost unique amongst adult insects is the absence of tarsal claws and the presence of a tarsal arolium. In contrast, the characteristic fringed wings from which the ordinal name is derived occur in many other small insects, including beetles, wasps, moths and caddisflies. However, adults of many thrips species are apterous or micropterous – that is, wingless or with very short wings.
Two suborders are recognised, the Terebrantia and the Tubulifera. Only one family is recognised in the Tubulifera, but eight families are recognised in the Terebrantia (plus a further five families for fossil taxa) (
The following technical terms are used in the keys provided here. In association with the three ocelli on the head there are commonly three pairs of setae: ocellar setal pair I in front of the first ocellus, pair II arise laterally close to the compound eyes, pair III vary in position from inside to just outside the ocellar triangle. Ocellar setal pair I are absent in species of Taeniothrips and Thrips (Figs
Terebrantia from Hawaii. Antennae 1–9: 1 Selenothrips rubrocinctus 2 Chirothrips manicatus 3 Aeolothrips fasciatus segments III–IV 4 Franklinothrips vespiformis segments III–IV 5 Franklinothrips vespiformis 6 Merothrips floridensis segments III–IV 7 Merothrips floridensis 8 Aeolothrips fasciatus 9 Aeolothrips nasturtii. Females 10–13: 10 Merothrips morgani 11 Aeolothrips bicolor 12 Aeolothrips fasciatus 13 Franklinothrips vespiformis. Tergites VII & VIII 14–15: 14 Frankliniella schultzei 15 Thrips australis.
Thripidae from Hawaii. 16 Heliothrips haemorroidalis. 17 Helionothrips errans, head 18 Caliothrips fasciatus, head & pronotum. Fore wing 19–22: 19 Parthenothrips dracaenae 20 Selenothrips rubrocinctus 21 Hercinothrips bicinctus 22 Caliothrips fasciatus. 23 Heliothrips haemorroidalis antenna 24 Anisopilothrips venustulus, tergites I–III. Tergites III–IV 26–27: 26 Helionothrips errans 27 Caliothrips fasciatus. 28 Asprothrips seminigricornis metathoracic furca.
Thripidae from Hawaii. Asprothrips seminigricornis 29–30: 29 head 30 tergites III & IV 31 Leucothrips theobromae, tergites III & IV. Neohydatothrips samayunkur 32–34: 32 fore tibia 33 female 34 meso & metanotum. 35 Sericothrips staphylinus meso & metanotum. 36 Neohydatothrips gracilipes fore wing 37 Arorathrips mexicanus, head & pronotum 38 Apterothrips apteris sternite IV 39 Anaphothrips obscurus antenna. Aptinothrips rufus 40–41: 40 antenna 41 female 42 Arorathrips spiniceps, head 43 Arorathrips mexicanus tergite IV 44 Anaphothrips swezeyi tergites VII–VIII.
Thripinae from Hawaii. 45 Baileyothrips arizonensis tergites IV & V. 46 Bolacothrips striatopterus tergites VII & VIII. 47 Bregmatothrips venustus tergite IV. 48 Chaetanaphothrips leeuweni tergite VIII. Ch. signipennis 49–50: 49 head 50 sternites II & III. Ch. orchidii 51–52: 51 pronotum 52 fore wing 53 Limothrips cerealium antenna. Metathoracic furca 54–55: 54 Chirothrips manicatus 55 Arorathrips mexicanus 56 Dendrothripoides innoxius tergites. Dichromothrips corbetti 57–59: 57 pronotum 58 antenna 59 meso & metathoracic furcae. D. smithi 60–61: 60 meso & metathoracic furcae 61 tergite VIII. Echinothrips americanus 62–64: 62 head 63 fore wing setae 64 tergite IV.
Thripinae from Hawaii. 65 Frankliniella occidentalis head & pronotum. 66 Fr. minuta head & pronotum 67 Fr. schultzei head. Antennal segment III Frankliniella species 68–69: 68 fusca 69 cephalica 70 Fr. invasor antenna. Tergite VIII Frankliniella species 71–76: 71 occidentalis 72 williamsi 73 crotalariae 74 hemerocallis 75 insularis 76 schultzei 77 Fr. williamsi sternite II. Kurtomathrips morrilli 78–79: 78 pronotum 79 tergites IV–V 80 Limothrips cerealium tergites VIII–X. Microcephalothrips abdominalis 81–82: 81 prosternum 82 tergites IV & V.
Thripinae from Hawaii. Organothrips indicus 92–93: 92 head 93 fore tibia. Pezothrips kellyanus 94–95: 94 meso & metanota 95 antenna. Plesiothrips perplexus 96–97: 96 head 97 ovipositor. Pseudanaphothrips araucariae 98–99: 98 tergite VIII 99 pronotum. Scirtothrips species 100–103: 100 citri head 101 dorsalis head 102 dorsalis sternite IV 103 inermis tergites IV & V 104 Rhamphothrips pandens sternite VII 105 Scolothrips sexmaculatus head & pronotum. 106 Sciothrips cardamomi head 107 Taeniothrips euchariae head 108 Tenothrips frici meso & metanota.Antennae 109–110: 109 Psydrothrips kewi 110 Projectothrips bhattii.
Thripinae from Hawaii. Thrips species 111–130: 111 hawaiiensis head 112 australis metanotum 113 orientalis metanotum 114 palmi metanotum 115 vittipennis metanotum 116 simplex metanotum 117 hawaiiensis metanotum 118 vittipennis antenna 119 australis antenna 120 florum mesonotum 121 hawaiiensis mesonotum 122 florum clavus 123 hawaiiensis clavus 124 vittipennis tergite VIII 125 tabaci tergite & pleurotergite IV 126 nigropilosus tergites IV & V 127 hawaiiensis tergite VIII 128 orientalis sternite IV 129 parvispinus sternite VI & VII 130 imaginis sternites IV–V 131 Stenchaetothrips minutus head 132 Trichromothrips cyperaceae head.
1 | Abdominal segment X tubular; ovipositor inflatable and extruded at base of tube; fore wings when present, with no surface microtrichia nor visible longitudinal veins | Tubulifera |
– | Abdominal segment X longitudinally divided ventrally, ovipositor of 4 saw-edged valves; fore wings, when present, with surface microtrichia and two longitudinal veins | Terebrantia |
Worldwide in this suborder only one family (Phlaeothripidae) and two subfamilies (Idolothripinae and Phlaeothripinae) are recognised, although
Of the eight families worldwide that are recognised in this suborder (
1 | Antennal segments III and IV with emergent, simple or forked sense cones (Figs |
Thripidae |
– | Antennal segments III and IV with sensoria not protruding, elongate or oval (Figs |
2 |
2 | Antenna 9-segmented, III–IV elongate, parallel sided, with sensoria elongate along these segments (Figs |
Aeolothripidae |
– | Antenna 8-segmented, III–IV with convex sides, sensoria transverse or sub-circular at apex of segments (Figs |
Merothripidae |
Over 200 species in 23 genera are listed in this family (
1 | Antennal segment III less than 6 times as long as wide; sensoria on III–IV linear, no more than 0.5 as long as segment (Fig. |
Aeolothrips |
– | Antennal segment III about 10 times longer than wide; sensoria on III–IV sinuous and almost as long as segment (Fig. |
Franklinothrips |
The 105 species listed in this genus are almost entirely from the Holarctic, with no more than five species known from India or South Africa (
1 | Abdominal segments II and III pale (Fig. |
bicolor |
– | Abdomen completely blackish brown | 2 |
2 | Antennal segment VI less than one-half as long as V (Fig. |
fasciatus |
– | Antennal segment VI about two-thirds as long as V (Fig. |
nasturtii |
Aeolothrips bicolor Hinds: This is considered to be a predator of scale insects and mites. Widespread in eastern USA southward through Texas and Mexico to Costa Rica, it has been found on Kauai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu. The abdomen is bicoloured, the fore wing bears two dark cross bands, and tergite IX of the male bears a pair of claspers. It is ant-like in appearance and behavior, and is usually found living at ground level amongst grasses (
Aeolothrips fasciatus (Linnaeus): Described from Europe, this species appears to be a facultative predator of small arthropods in various flowers. It is recorded from Hawaii, Maui and Oahu, is widespread in USA, and is known from New Zealand and southern Australia. However, there are several species that are similar in colour and structure, and the precise identity of fasciatus cannot be established without males (
Aeolothrips nasturtii Jones: This species is closely similar to fasciatus in appearance, apparently differing only in the relative proportions of the antennal segments, but unfortunately the male of nasturtii remains unknown. The species is recorded from Maui, and is widespread in USA into Canada.
This genus includes 16 species, and these occur in various countries around the tropics (
Franklinothrips vespiformis Crawford: Recorded widely around the world and often in vegetable crops, this species is reported from Hawaii and Oahu. It has sometimes been deployed as a biocontrol agent against pest thrips in European glasshouses (
This family comprises 16 species in three genera. A few species are found widely around the tropics, but most are Neotropical, with two species of one genus known from the Hawaiian Islands. Adult females bear a pair of lobes on the posterior margin of sternite VII, and these lobes have been considered to represent a reduced eighth sternite (
The species in this genus have 8-segmented antennae, with a circular or transverse sensorium at the apex of segments III and IV, and segment VIII elongate. They are minute insects that are fungus-feeders on dead twigs. The genus was treated by
1 | Pronotum with faint longtitudinal striae medially as well as near posterior margin | morgani |
– | Pronotum with striae only on posterior area | floridensis |
Merothrips floridensis Watson: Widespread around the world, this species is recorded from Hawaii and Oahu. It is usually found on dead twigs and branches.
Merothrips morgani Hood: Although collected much less frequently than floridensis, this species has also been reported widely around the world in warm areas on all continents. The synonym hawaiiensis Moulton was described from Hawaii, and morgani is recorded from Maui, Molokai and Oahu.
With rather more than 2000 species and 290 genera worldwide (
1 | Body surface strongly reticulate (Figs |
Panchaetothripinae |
– | Body surface either not reticulate, or with relatively weak sculpture, and colour varying from brown to almost white; fore wing first vein distinct from costa; meso- and/or metathoracic furca usually with median spinula | 2 |
2 | Metathoracic furca lyre-shaped, greatly prolonged anteriorly (Fig. |
Dendrothripinae |
– | Metathoracic furca transverse or produced as simple median spinula (Figs |
3 |
3 | Femora and tibiae with rows of microtrichia (Fig. |
Sericothripinae |
– | Femora and tibiae without closely spaced rows of microtrichia; fore wing chaetotaxy different; sense cone on antennal segment VI with base circular to elongate-oval; abdominal tergite IX usually with one or two pairs of campaniform sensilla (Fig. |
Thripinae |
A taxonomic account of this group was provided by
1 | Fore wing with polygonal reticulation (Fig. |
Parthenothrips |
– | Forewing not reticulate; antenna 8-segmented | 2 |
2 | Antennal segments III–IV with simple sense cones (Fig. |
3 |
– | Antennal segments III–IV with sense cones forked (Fig. |
6 |
3 | Abdominal segment II anterolaterally with dense cluster of recurved, stout, microtrichia (Fig. |
4 |
– | Abdominal segment II without paired anterolateral clusters of stout microtrichia; mesonotum without complete longitudinal median division | 5 |
4 | Tergite X with apices of terminal setae acute; metanotum with longest pair of setae on anterior half of sclerite; tergites III–VII with paired clusters of reticles (Fig. |
Anisopilothrips |
– | Tergite X with apices of terminal setal pair capitate; metanotum with longest pair of setae on posterior half of sclerite; tergites without clusters of reticles | Elixothrips |
5 | Fore wing anterior margin with cilia, posterior margin with cilia straight, wing apex rounded; head with polygonal reticulation, not projecting in front of eyes (Fig. |
Heliothrips |
– | Fore wing anterior margin without cilia, posterior margin with cilia wavy, wing apex pointed; head projecting in front of eyes, with rugose sculpture (Fig. |
Rhipiphorothrips |
6 | Fore wing uniformly deeply shaded (Fig. |
Selenothrips |
– | Fore wing not uniformly dark; head without distinct neck; abdominal tergite X with dorsal longitudinal split | 7 |
7 | Tarsi 2-segmented; fore wing with 2 complete rows of setae (Fig. |
Hercinothrips |
– | Tarsi one-segmented; fore wing first vein with few setae (Fig. |
8 |
8 | Head without markings within sculptured reticles, except posterior to strong occipital ridge (Fig. |
Helionothrips |
– | Head with markings within sculptured reticles, without occipital ridge (Fig. |
Caliothrips |
Only one species is recognized in this tropical genus. It is closely related to Elixothrips and also to Astrothrips in having a dense cluster of recurved microtrichia on the second abdominal tergite.
Anisopilothrips venustulus (Priesner): Described from, and widespread around, the Caribbean, this species is also recorded from Florida, as well as Taiwan, Japan, Australia and Fiji. Abdominal tergites III–VII each have a conspicuous pair of reticulate areas arranged like a flower or bunch of grapes (Fig.
This genus of 22 species is widespread around the tropics, and
1 | Fore wing brown with 2 white crossbands (Fig. |
fasciatus |
– | Fore wing white except for brown apex and occasional pale brown area in basal quarter; antennal segments III–V predominantly yellow, with apex pale brown | punctipennis |
Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande): The North American Bean Thrips, this species used to be considered a pest of agricultural crops in western USA (
Caliothrips punctipennis (Hood): Little is known about this American grass-living species. It has curiously pale fore wings, and is recorded from Florida, Texas and Mexico, as well as Maui and Oahu.
The only species in this genus bears an array of recurved stout microtrichia anterolaterally on the second abdominal tergite. In this it resembles species of the tropical genera Astrothrips and Anisopilothrips, but is distinguished by the presence of a pair of capitate setae at the abdominal apex.
Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall): Described from the Seychelles, this species has been reported widely from countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, as well as from Hawaii and Oahu. It is a pest of banana fruits in Martinique as well as Hawaii (
A total of 27 species from various tropical countries are currently listed under this genus (
Helionothrips errans (Williams): Described from a greenhouse in Europe, this species is widespread in tropical countries, and is commonly considered a pest of cultivated orchids, including Cymbidium species. It has been reported from the Hawaiian Islands only once, from a greenhouse in the Volcano area of Hawaii.
Three species are now considered valid in this genus, all from South America (
Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouché): The Greenhouse thrips is a common minor pest, but can be particularly damaging on plants that are growing suboptimally or where fruit hanging in clusters touch each other and provide protected areas for larvae, pupae, and adults to conceal themselves. Mature adults are dark brown with yellow legs, but adults freshly emerged from pupae commonly have the abdomen golden yellow. Attacked plants usually bear distinctive “bleached” areas that result from feeding and small black faecal spots that larvae and adults deposit on leaves. The host-plant range is extensive, but commonly involves plants with hard leaves that lack glandular trichomes (
The nine species included in this African genus are unique amongst Panchaetothripinae in having the tarsi two segmented, and the fore wings with both longitudinal veins bearing a complete row of setae. Two of the species are widespread around the world, but a third has recently been recorded as introduced to Portugal, damaging the leaves of succulent plants of the genus Aloe (
1 | Fore wing median pale band longer than the brown cross bands on either side (Fig. |
bicinctus |
– | Fore wing median pale band indistinct or shorter than dark areas on either side | femoralis |
Hercinothrips bicinctus Bagnall: Widespread throughout subtropical countries, and sometimes common in greenhouses in temperate countries, this species was first collected on the Hawaiian Islands at Pauoa, Oahu, 16.vi.1998, from Coccinea grandis. Highly polyphagous, it is often a pest on banana fruits.
Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter): Similarly polyphagous and as widespread around the world as bicinctus, this species is reported from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.
Only one species is placed in this genus, and this is easily recognised from the highly distinctive broad reticulate fore wings (Fig.
Parthenothrips dracaenae (Heeger): Commonly known as the Parlour Palm thrips, from its worldwide association with the leaves of cultivated Howea palms, this species is not commonly taken out of doors. On the Hawaiian Islands it has been taken on the leaves of Cordyline terminalis and Polyscias sp., and is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.
This genus comprises three Asian and two African species (
Rhipiphorothrips pulchellus Morgan: Distinctively coloured, with the head and sides of the pterothorax brown, but the pronotum, abdomen, antennae and legs yellow, this species was decribed originally from Sri Lanka. It is widely recorded across Asia, from a range of different plant species. In contrast to a very similar Asian species, cruentatus, the males do not have a tooth-like tubercle laterally on the fourth abdominal tergite. It has been found on Oahu, in association with Acalypha wilkesiana, Carissa grandiflora, Eugenia malaccensis, Leucaena leucocephala, and Mangifera indica.
Only one species is placed in this genus. It is readily recognised from the reticulate head sharply constricted to a basal neck that lacks reticulation, and the unusually dark fore wings that have two rows of widely spaced black setae (Fig.
Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard): Known as the red-banded cacao thrips, because of its brightly coloured larvae and frequent association with cocoa tree foliage, this species is polyphagous. Probably Neotropical in origin, this species is now pantropical, and has been recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu, on the leaves of a wide range of unrelated plant species.
Worldwide, there are almost 95 species listed in 12 genera in this subfamily (
1 | Abdominal tergites III–VI with median pair of setae small and wide apart (Fig. |
Asprothrips |
– | Abdominal tergites III–VI with median pair of setae longer than distance between their bases (Fig. |
Leucothrips |
Five species are recognised in this genus, and these are probably all East Asian in origin. In contrast to the single species recorded from Hawaii, the others all have the body dark brown at least in part.
Asprothrips seminigricornis (Girault): This is a minute, white thrips with the terminal antennal segments dark brown. It has been described under three different names, from Australia, New York and Hawaii, the latter name being Scirtothrips antennatus. It is highly polyphagous, and in Australia has been found breeding on the young leaves of peach (Prunus persica), Tung Tree (Vernicia fordii), granadilla (Passiflora ligularis), mulberry (Morus alba), and also Citrus (
Four of the five known species in this genus are from the New World, one from Guadeloupe, two from South America and one from North and South America. The fifth species, nigripennis, is widespread around the world in association with cultivated ferns, and is readily recognized by its uniformly dark fore wings. The genus seems to be the ecological equivalent of the Eurasian genus Dendrothrips, living on the leaves of a range of trees and herbs. The species of these two genera share a curious instability in antennal segmentation and form of sense cones. Leucothrips species have the fore wing costal cilia arising at the margin, although Dendrothrips species have these cilia arise submarginally and ventrally.
1 | Antennal segments III and IV with sense cone simple in both sexes; head pale | piercei |
– | Antennal segments III and IV with sense cone forked in female, simple in male; head with small red spot on anterior margin at base of antennae | theobromae |
Leucothrips piercei (Morgan): Described originally from Texas, this species is recorded from Arizona and California, as well as Mexico, Surinam, Brazil and Peru. It is known from Kauai and Oahu, where it is common on leaves of Xanthium, and also on beets, bean, carrot, eggplant, lettuce, mustard, parsley, Hibiscus, and radish (
Leucothrips theobromae (Priesner): Described from Surinam, this species seems to be widespread in at least the northern parts of South America, including Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. On Oahu it has been taken from the leaves of Ricinus communis.
Currently three genera are recognised in this subfamily of 152 species. However, a further 12 generic names are available that have been proposed for individual species with one or more exceptional characteristics (
1 | Metanotal sculpture longitudinal, with no microtrichia (Fig. |
Neohydatothrips |
– | Metanotal sculpture transverse, posterior third with rows of microtrichia (Fig. |
Sericothrips |
Worldwide, a total of 103 species is recognised in this genus, and these species occur in both temperate and tropical zones of both hemispheres. Members of this genus are fully winged, and the metasternal anterior margin is transverse with only a small indentation. Many of the species are brightly coloured with various patterns of dark and light on the body and fore wings. There are many microtrichia on the lateral thirds of the tergites, and the fore wing has a complete row of setae on the first vein (Fig.
1 | Fore wing almost uniformly pale or lightly shaded, clavus darker (Fig. |
gracilipes |
– | Fore wing with two dark bands; body mainly dark brown (Fig. |
samayunkur |
Neohydatothrips gracilipes (Hood): Although adults are recorded from various plants, this species seems to breed particularly on small weeds in the genus Sida, but possibly also on other Malvaceae. The legs and body are mainly yellow, but there are small brown markings on the head and thorax, and the tergal antecostal ridges are dark. The male bears a single small pore plate on the seventh sternite. Described from Mexico, this thrips is recorded from Maui and Oahu, and is known from many other areas including Texas, Trinidad, Costa Rica, India and Australia.
Neohydatothrips samayunkur (Kudo): Apparently specific to species of Tagetes, this thrips has probably been dispersed by the horticultural trade in marigold plants. Recorded from Hawaii and Oahu, it has been seen from Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.
Eight species are included in this genus, one of which is from South Africa and the others from the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike the members of the other two genera in this subfamily, the species of Sericothrips have a tendency to produce apterous adults.
Sericothrips staphylinus Haliday: This European thrips was introduced to Hawaii as a biological control agent against the knoxious shrubby weed Ulex europaeus (
This is the largest of the Terebrantia subfamilies, with nearly 1700 species in 235 genera. The group is represented throughout the world, wherever green plants can grow, and many species are considered to be crop pests. A particularly large number of taxa are specific to Poaceae (
1 | Antennal segments III–IV each with a simple sense cone (Figs |
2 |
– | Antennal segments III–IV each with a forked sense cone (Figs |
11 |
2 | Female tergite X with prominent pair of thorn-like setae (Fig. |
Limothrips |
– | Female tergite X without such stout setae | 3 |
3 | Antennal segment II strongly asymmetric, external margin produced into a point (Figs |
4 |
– | Antennal segment II more or less symmetrical, not produced laterally; pronotum transverse (if rarely trapezoidal then with prominent flattened pair of setae at posterior angles: Fig. |
5 |
4 | Mesothoracic sternal furca strongly developed with paired lateral flanges and invaginated medially (Fig. |
Chirothrips |
– | Mesothoracic sternal furca weakly developd, without paired lateral flanges, invaginations widely separated (Fig. |
Arorathrips |
5 | Head clearly longer than wide but not projecting in front of eyes (Fig. |
Aptinothrips |
– | Head different; body usually brown; antennae 8- or 9-segmented | 6 |
6 | Abdominal tergites VI–VIII with paired ctenidia laterally (Fig. |
Bolacothrips |
– | Abdominal tergites without paired ctenidia | 7 |
7 | Fore wing costa and first vein each with row of long capitate setae (Fig. |
Echinothrips |
– | Fore wing without such long capitate setae, or wing absent | 8 |
8 | Head prolonged in front of eyes (Fig. |
Organothrips |
– | Head and fore tibia different | 9 |
9 | Pronotum with no long setae; sternites with deeply lobed craspedum (Fig. |
Apterothrips |
– | Pronotal posteroangular setae prominent; sternites without lobed craspeda | 10 |
10 | Pronotum with two pairs of long pointed posteroangular setae; tergal median setae small and far apart, craspedum with rounded lobes (Fig. |
Bregmatothrips |
– | Pronotum with one pair of long, flattened posteroangular setae (Fig. |
Kurtomathrips |
11 | Lateral thirds of tergites with many irregularly arranged, broadly based, stout microtrichia (Fig. |
Dendrothripoides |
– | Tergites and head different | 12 |
12 | Lateral thirds of tergites with closely spaced rows of small microtrichia (Fig. |
Scirtothrips |
– | Lateral thirds of tergites without or with few irregular microtrichia | 13 |
13 | Female sternite VII with posteromarginal setae pairs I and II close together medially and distant from lateral pair S III (Fig. |
Rhamphothrips |
– | Female sternite VII with all three pairs of posteromarginal setae equidistant from each other | 14 |
14 | Female with ovipositor weak and lacking serrations or with weak serrations (Fig. |
Plesiothrips |
– | Female with ovipositor bearing conspicuous serrations, extending to apex of segment X | 15 |
15 | Pronotum without prominent posteroangular setae (Fig. |
16 |
– | Pronotum with one or two pairs of prominent posteroangular setae (Figs |
18 |
16 | Tergites II–IV with median setal pair long and close together (Fig. |
Baileyothrips |
– | Tergal median setae arising further apart from each other than their length; tergites without any craspeda; sternites without discal setae, with 3 pairs of marginal setae; male with sternal pore plates | 17 |
17 | Ocellar setae pair I present; antennal segment VI with partial division giving apparent 9-segmented condition (Fig. |
Anaphothrips |
– | Ocellar setae pair I absent; antennae 8-segmented, III and IV with elongate apex and sense cones extending more than one third across succeeding segment (Fig. |
Dichromothrips [in part] |
18 | Tergite VIII with paired ctenidia anterolateral to spiracle (Figs |
19 |
– | Tergite VIII either without ctenidia or with paired ctenidia posteromesad of spiracle (Fig. |
20 |
19 | Pronotum posterior margin with one pair of small setae between the major median posteromarginal setae (Fig. |
Frankliniella |
– | Pronotum posterior margin without pair of small setae between major median pair of posteromarginal setae (Fig. |
Pseudanaphothrips |
20 | Tergites V–VII with paired ctenidia (Fig. |
21 |
– | Tergites V–VII without any ctenidia; head usually with pair of setae in front of first ocellus (Fig. |
23 |
21 | Prosternum with several pairs of setae (Fig. |
Microcephalothrips |
– | Prosternum without setae; tergites without prominent craspedal teeth | 22 |
22 | Ocellar setae pair II longer than pair III (Fig. |
Stenchaetothrips |
– | Ocellar setae pair II shorter than or equal to pair III (Fig. |
Thrips |
23 | Pronotum with 6 pairs of very long setae (Fig. |
Scolothrips |
– | Pronotum with no more than three pairs of long setae | 24 |
24 | Antennal segment VIII spindle-shaped, almost 4 times as long as VII (Fig. |
Projectothrips |
– | Antennal segment VIII shorter (Figs |
25 |
25 | Fore wing first and second longitudinal veins both with complete row of setae | Neurisothrips |
– | Fore wing veins with incomplete setal rows | 26 |
26 | Tergite VIII with area of specialised sculpture extending anteromesad from spiracles (Fig. |
Chaetanaphothrips |
– | Tergite VIII without such specialised sculpture around spiracles | 27 |
27 | Head with ocellar setae pair I present | 28 |
– | Head lacking ocellar setae pair I in front of first ocellus (Figs |
30 |
28 | Antenna with 9 segments (Fig. |
Psydrothrips |
– | Antenna with 8 segments (Fig. |
29 |
29 | Mesonotum with median setal pair arising in front of posterior margin (Fig. |
Tenothrips |
– | Mesonotal median setal pair arising at posterior margin (Fig. |
Pezothrips |
30 | Tergite VIII with no posteromarginal comb | 31 |
– | Tergite VIII with complete posteromarginal comb of microtrichia (Fig. |
32 |
31 | Fore wing second vein with few, widely spaced setae; tergite IX of female with campaniform sensilla; male without sternal pore plates, and tergite IX without drepanae | Danothrips |
– | Fore wing second vein with complete setal row; tergite IX of female without campaniform sensilla; male with sternal pore plates and tergite IX with pair of drepanae | Trichromothrips |
32 | Metathoracic furcal spinula present but weak in corbetti (Figs |
Dichromothrips |
– | Metathoracic furca with no spinula | 33 |
33 | Head prolonged in front of compound eyes (Fig. |
Sciothrips |
– | Head not prolonged in front of eyes (Fig. |
Taeniothrips |
More than 80 species are listed in this genus. In the northern hemisphere many of the species are associated with Poaceae (
1 | Abdominal tergites with many sculpture lines across median area; tergite IX major setal pairs S1 and S2 not extending beyond apex of segment X. | obscurus |
– | Abdominal tergites with no lines of sculpture on median area; tergite IX major setal pairs S1 and S2 extending beyond apex of segment X | swezeyi |
Anaphothrips obscurus (Müller): Widely distributed throughout the temperate areas of the world on various Poaceae, this yellow thrips is sometimes a minor pest of cereal crops, and has been taken on Maui and Oahu. The male is known only from Iran (
Anaphothrips swezeyi Moulton: Although this small yellow species was described originally from sugar cane in the Hawaiian Islands, there is no evidence that this is where it originated. It has been recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and Oahu, but was taken commonly on New Caledonia, and also along the coastal region of eastern Australia from where the male was first described (
Only two species are placed in this genus, and
Apterothrips apteris (Daniel): Described from California, this species is found southwards along the west of South America, being recorded from Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and southern Argentina, and then across the Southern Ocean to New Zealand and Australia. In Hawaii it was originally misidentified and recorded as secticornis, a species that occurs northwards from California and in northern Europe. In coastal California, apteris breeds on Erigeron, but in Western Australia and New Zealand it has caused damage to alfalfa, and in Tasmania it has been found on garlic plants (
Four species are recognised in this genus, all wingless (Fig.
Aptinothrips rufus (Haliday): The form of the 6-segmented antennae, with the large terminal segment, is distinctive in this species (Fig.
This genus comprises 16 species and was erected for a series of species originally placed in the genus Chirothrips. As with the members of that genus, all of the species breed in the flowers of Poaceae.
1 | Outer margin of fore tibia prolonged around base of second tarsal segment (Fig. |
mexicanus |
– | Outer margin of fore tibia not prolonged; tergites and sternites without tuberculate scallops. | 2 |
2 | Head with at least 30 small setae; prosternal basantra with setae; abdominal sternites with median 2 pairs of posteromarginal setae arising on posterior margin | fulvus |
– | Head with 10–22 small setae (Fig. |
spiniceps |
Arorathrips fulvus (Moulton): Described originally from Oahu, with one synonym from Brazil, this species is recorded from Texas, Tennessee, Argentina, and Uruguay, as well as Hawaii and Kauai. Yellowish-brown, it sometimes has the abdomen paler than the thorax, and is unusual in having many small setae on the prosternal basantra. It is possibly associated with species of Paspalum.
Arorathrips mexicanus (Crawford): In addition to the original description based on specimens from Mexico, this species has been described under three other names, from Florida, Louisiana and Argentina. It is widespread in the Americas, and known from South Africa, Thailand, Philippines, Australia and New Caledonia, as well as Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Midway and Oahu. It is one of the most common thrips on grasses in many tropical areas, and is reported from various species of tropical Poaceae, including sugar cane.
Arorathrips spiniceps (Hood): Described from Arizona, with one synonym from Hawaii, this species is widespread across the USA, and is recorded from Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Costa Rica, Dominica, Bermuda, Argentina, Papua, Solomon Islands and Australia, as well as Kauai and Oahu. It is recorded from various species of Poaceae, including sugar cane.
Only two species are recognized in this genus, although doubt has been expressed that these are distinct species (
1 | Abdominal tergites laterally with many discal microtrichia (Fig. |
arizonensis |
– | Abdominal tergites with few discal microtrichia except on anterior tergites; pronotum with light brown spots in submarginal row on each side, antennal segments IV–V pale in basal half, base of VI occasionally pale | limbatus |
Baileyothrips arizonensis (Morgan): Described from Arizona with one synonym from California, this species is recorded from Texas and Florida as well as Oahu. Reported from various plants, it appears to be associated species of Euphorbia, although
Baileyothrips limbatus (Hood): As indicated above, this species is very similar to arizonensis, and is also associated with Euphorbia species. Described from Panama, it is recorded from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Trinidad and Florida, as well as Maui.
Twelve species are listed in this genus, and with one exception, all of them are from tropical and subtropical countries living on Poaceae. It is closely related to the genus Thrips, in lacking ocellar setae pair I and in having tergal ctenidia with those on VIII posteromesad of the spiracles (Fig.
Bolacothrips striatopennatus (Schmutz): Described from Sri Lanka, and known on grasses from India to Japan and Taiwan, also Guam, northern Australia, Florida, Georgia and Kauai.
The nine species currently recognized in this genus are from various warm temperate to subtropical parts of the world, all living on Poaceae, with venustus widely distributed. The females have a narrow pale, weakly scalloped, craspedum on the posterior margin of the tergites (Fig.
Bregmatothrips venustus Hood: This species was recorded from Oahu under the synonymic name sonorensis Stannard (see
This is a Southeast Asian genus of 20 species, of which three species are widespread around the world, mainly in the tropics but sometimes in greenhouses in temperate areas. All the species are yellow, with a characteristic area of stippled cuticle extending anteromesad from the two spiracles on tergite VIII (Fig.
1 | Head with 3 pairs of ocellar setae, ocellar setae pair I present anterolateral to first ocellus (Fig. |
signipennis |
– | Head with 2 pairs of ocellar setae, ocellar setae pair I absent; sternite II of female with 1–3 discal setae, sternite III without a pore plate | 2 |
2 | Pronotum with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae, outer pair shorter than inner pair; fore wing with median brown band long, occupying at least half of wing length (Fig. |
orchidii |
– | Pronotum with 1 pair of short posteroangular setae; fore wing with median brown band short, 1–3 times as long as width of wing | leeuweni |
Chaetanaphothrips leeuweni (Karny): This appears to be the least common of the three widespread pest species. It is recorded widely in the Caribbean islands, also Florida, and on several Pacific islands including Oahu.
Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton): This species is a polyphagous leaf feeder in moist environments and is an occasional pest of Anthurium, orchids, and Asystasia in Hawaii. It induces and feeds within rolled leaves (
Chaetanaphothrips signipennis (Bagnall): Known as the banana rust thrips, this species is known as a pest of bananas in Oriental, Australian, and Central American regions, and causes white streaks in Hawaii on Ti leaves, Cordyline terminalis (
There are 42 species currently listed in this genus, mostly from temperate parts of the world. As with the species of Arorathrips, these thrips breed within the florets of Poaceae, usually with only one larva in each floret (
[* doubtful record]
1 | Antennal segment II strongly produced laterally with margin concave (Fig. |
manicatus * |
– | Antennal segment II asymmetric, angulate laterally with margin almost straight; sternites with craspedum bearing conical teeth | patruelis |
Chirothrips manicatus (Haliday): No specimens of this species have been seen from the Hawaiian Islands, despite the record in
Chirothrips patruelis Hood: Described originally from New York, this species is widespread from Canada to New Mexico and Arizona, but is also recorded from Peru and Hawaii. It is similar in structure to manicatus, and presumably has similar relationships to grass flowers.
Nine species are listed in this Southeast Asian genus. It is presumably related to Chaetanaphothrips, the male having a pair of spine-like setae medially on tergite IX, but the tergites and sternites lack craspeda, and there is no comb on tergite VIII.
Danothrips trifasciatus Sakmura: Adults of this small yellow species with banded fore wings have been collected from a wide range of unrelated plants. It has been reported as causing leaf damage to Anthurium, also ringspot damage on grapefruits and oranges (
Of the five species in this genus, one is known from Zambia, two from the Philippines and the other two from Southeast Asia. The genus is highly recognizable, because of the large, broadly based microtrichia on the tergites (Fig.
Dendrothripoides innoxius (Karny): One of the synonyms of this species is ipomoeae, a name that recognises that this thrips is often a pest on the leaves of Ipomoea batatas, the sweet potato. However, it has been found on several other plants, and possibly in association with leaf damage to lettuce (
This genus includes 18 species from the Old World between Africa, Asia and Australia, and two of these are known from the Hawaiian Islands. Two further species, semicognitus and phalaenopsidis, were described by
1 | Fore wing banded, subapical area pale in contrast to dark apex and median area | dendrobii |
– | Fore wing uniformly brown with base pale | 2 |
2 | Pronotum with no long posteroangular setae (Fig. |
corbetti |
– | Pronotum with 1 pair of posteroangular setae more than twice as long as other posteromarginal setae | smithi |
Dichromothrips corbetti (Priesner): Described from Malaysia, but widely reported around the world, particularly as damaging cultivated Vanda orchids, this species has characteristic transverse sculpture lines on the metanotum, and unlike other species in the genus lacks any long pronotal setae (Fig.
Dichromothrips dendrobii Sakimura: Despite the presence of long pronotal posteroangular setae, this species is similar in structure to corbetti, and is distinguished particularly by the banded fore wings. Presumably from the Philippines, it is reported from Oahu as damaging the leaves and flower buds of Dendrobium superbum.
Dichromothrips smithi (Zimmermann): This species has been taken several times by quarantine in California on orchids imported from Hawaii. It is also listed in an unpublished, updated list of Hawaiian insects prepared by Bernarr Kumashiro. Presumably established on the Hawaiian Islands, this thrips is known as a pest of Vanilla crops in India, and is recorded from Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, and Japan.
A genus of seven species from various parts of North and South America, these thrips are dark brown, with the head and pronotum reticulate (Fig.
Echinothrips americanus Morgan: Originally from the Eastern United States, this species is recorded from Hawaii and Oahu, and is now widespread as a greenhouse pest across the northern hemisphere (
This is one of the largest genera of Thysanoptera, with over 230 species, mostly from the Americas, but with a particularly large number of species from the Neotropics (
1 | Tergite VIII posterior margin with no comb, or comb represented only by 2–3 teeth laterally (Fig. |
2 |
– | Tergite VIII posterior margin with comb of long microtrichia, or of short microtrichia with broad triangular bases (Figs |
5 |
2 | Ocellar setae pair III arising within ocellar triangle (Fig. |
3 |
– | Ocellar setae pair III arising outside or on anterior margins of ocellar triangle (Figs |
4 |
3 | Head not produced in front of eyes; ocellar setae pair III arising between posterior ocelli, or on tangent between anterior margins of posterior ocelli (Fig. |
schultzei |
– | Head slightly produced in front of eyes; ocellar setae pair III arising in front of tangent between anterior margins of posterior ocelli; tergite VIII posterior margin with a few microtrichia laterally | bondari |
4 | Pedicel of antennal segment III with sharp-edged ring, distal to which is a chalice-like collar (Fig. |
cephalica |
– | Pedicel of antennal segment III with margins parallel to softly rounded (Fig. |
fusca |
5 | Ocellar setae pair III no longer than diameter of an ocellus, arising on outer margin of ocellar triangle (Fig. |
minuta |
– | Ocellar setae pair III more than 2.0 times as long as diameter of an ocellus; pronotal anteromarginal setae longer than width of antennal segment II; comb on VIII with teeth variable, but never as long as S1 setae on tergite VI | 6 |
6 | Pedicel of antennal segment III with sharp-edged ring (Fig. |
invasor |
– | Pedicel of antennal segment III with margins parallel to softly rounded; comb on tergite VIII variously constructed | 7 |
7 | Fore wing brown with base sharply paler | 8 |
– | Fore wing uniformly pale or weakly shaded | 9 |
8 | Metanotum with pair of campaniform sensilla present; tergite VIII comb teeth longer than their basal width, commonly with one or two absent medially (Fig. |
insularis |
– | Metanotum with no campaniform sensilla; tergite VIII comb teeth shorter than their basal width, often irregular or bifurcate, and present across entire margin (Fig. |
hemerocallis |
9 | Body yellow with brown markings medially on tergites, or body brown | occidentalis |
– | Body yellow, with no obvious darker markings | 10 |
10 | Sternite II usually with 1–3 discal setae medially (Fig. |
williamsi |
– | Sternite II with no discal setae medially; tergite VIII comb with short irregular teeth (Fig. |
crotalariae |
Frankliniella bondari Hood: Described from Brazil, and recorded from Cuba, Mexico, Florida and Georgia, this small yellow species was first taken on Molokai in 1990. It is now known from Hawaii, Molokai and Oahu, but although adults have been taken from Polyanthus flowers there is no information available on the range of plants on which it might breed.
Frankliniella cephalica (Crawford): This is one of the most common thrips in a wide range of flowers, particularly white flowers, in countries around the Caribbean, including Florida and Texas. It has been taken on Maui and Oahu, and is one of only two species from Hawaiian Islands with a sharp-edged disc on the pedicel of the third antennal segment. In contrast to invasor, tergite VIII posterior margin has only a few microtrichia and these are placed near the lateral margins.
Frankliniella crotalariae Mound & Marullo: Previously known only from Costa Rica, this species is easily misidentified with occidentalis, but the abdomen is clear yellow, and the comb on tergite VIII is shorter and more irregular (Fig.
Frankliniella fusca (Hinds): Widespread from Canada to the Caribbean, including Mexico, Puerto Rico and Martinique and also introduced to The Netherlands, the tobacco thrips is a major pest in Georgia and Florida. It is polyphagous, and is a major vector of tospoviruses, causing problems on peanut and cotton crops. It is reported from Hawaii, but with no indication of being a pest locally. Adults of both sexes can be either fully winged (macropterous) or have wings shorter than the thorax width (micropterous).
Frankliniella hemerocallis Crawford: The day-lily thrips appears to be monophagous on Hemerocallis leaves and flowers. Described originally from Wisconsin, it is widespread on its host in North America. It is also recorded from Bermuda, Costa Rica, Japan, and Hungary, as well as Oahu, but the country of origin is not clear. It is a large dark brown species with bicoloured fore wings.
Frankliniella insularis (Franklin): One of the most common thrips species of Central and South America, but also found in southern areas of USA, this species has been taken on Hawaii. Another large dark species, with bicoloured fore wings, it is commonly found between the petals of Malvaviscus flowers. However, it appears to breed particularly in the flowers of various cultivated Fabaceae, including Cajanus and Pachyrhizus, on which it can be a minor pest.
Frankliniella invasor Sakimura: Although common in Hawaii, from where it was described originally, this species was presumably introduced from the Caribbean region. It is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu, but is also known from Trinidad, St Vincent and Puerto Rico as well as Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico. It has been collected in the flowers of various plants, including Gardenia, Leucaena, and Mangifera. There are other closely similar yellow species with an angulate pedicel on the third antennal segment in flowers in the Caribbean region (
Frankliniella minuta (Moulton): Described from California originally, this species is widespread in the Western USA southwards through Central America to Peru, and also recorded from Lanai, Oahu and Midway Island. A polyphagous species, it is one of a group of Frankliniella species in which the setae on the head and pronotum are particularly short (Fig.
Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande): Western flower thrips is one of the most important pest insects around the world, and has been found on Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui and Oahu. Originally from the western USA, it is now found worldwide, and is the most important vector of the thrips-borne Tospovirus diseases (
Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom): The country of origin of this species, the tomato thrips, is not clear. It occurs as both a yellow and a brown form, and both forms are found worldwide. The extent of genetic variation and its significance among populations of schultzei remains to be studied effectively, and the colour forms possibly represent two or more different species. It has been claimed that only the brown form is a tospovirus vector, but populations of yellow individuals are important as virus vectors on vegetable crops in Northeastern Australia. The species is found particularly in the tropics and subtropics, and has been recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Niihau and Oahu. It is usually easily recognised because of the position of ocellar setae pair III, and the absence of a comb on tergite VIII.
Frankliniella williamsi Hood: This species lives on various Poaceae, and is particularly associated with the leaves of Zea mays. Seedlings of field corn can be stunted or killed by this thrips, and seed production reduced by 20–40% (
Four species are listed in this genus (
Kurtomathrips morrilli Moulton: Body mainly yellow, with small brown markings, the pronotal posteroangular setae of this species are long and flattened (Fig.
Although eight species are listed in this European genus, three of these are known only from old descriptions from which they cannot be recognised (
Limothrips cerealium (Haliday): This is one of the most widespread species of thrips, found all across the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, and also in Australia as well as Hawaii, Kauai and Oahu. Swarms of this thrips rising from cereal crops are common in Europe in warm stormy weather, giving the common name of “Thunder Flies” (
Although similar to members of the genus Thrips in many characters, such as the presence and position of tergal ctenidia and the absence of pair I of the ocellar setae, the single species in this genus is remarkable for the presence of a group of setae on the prosternum (Fig.
Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford): As indicated by the name, the head of this species is unusually small, and the tergites and sternites bear a posteromarginal craspedum of pointed lobes (Fig.
This is an endemic Hawaiian genus of which seven species have been described. These species share the following character states with Frankliniella species: antennae 8-segmented, ocellar setal pair I present, both fore wing veins with complete row of setae, metanotal median setae usually at anterior margin, sternites and pleurotergites without discal setae, male sternites III–VII with transverse pore plates. However, the two genera differ in that species of Neurisothrips lack tergal ctenidia, and their tergites and sternites bear a posteromarginal craspedum that varies in size among the species but is lobed between the posteromarginal setae. The following key is based on the holotypes of the species described by Moulton together with one of the original specimens of multispinus. These type specimens are all uncleared slide-mounts and unsuitable for the production of clear images. Also studied were over 50 slide-mounts prepared by the late Kanjyo Sakimura. From these slides it is possible to deduce that this endemic genus is far more species-rich than published information indicates. However, the available specimens are uncleared with many character states difficult to observe. To examine this unique endemic radiation, field studies are needed in the Hawaiian Islands to establish host associations and distributions for each species. Fresh material is needed for slide mounting and critical study of morphology, as well as DNA analyses.
1 | Ocellar setae pair III shorter than distance between posterior ocelli; postocular setae pair IV scarcely longer than length of one ocellus (Fig. |
2 |
– | Ocellar setae pair III and postocular setae pair IV much longer (Figs |
3 |
2 | Fore wing with dark median band and dark apex; body, legs and all antennal segments brown; tergites laterally with group of less than 5 setae | fasciatus |
– | Fore wing pale without dark areas; body, legs and antennal segments I–IV also base of V and VI yellow (Fig. |
dubautiae |
3 | Body largely yellow | 4 |
– | Body brown to dark brown | 5 |
4 | Tergites with transverse row of 3 or 4 dark setae laterally (Fig. |
carteri |
– | Tergites laterally with irregular group of about 7 setae; antennal segment I white, II light brown, and III yellow in basal quarter; metanotal median setae arise at anterior margin | williamsi |
5 | Antennal segment III 75 microns long (60 microns in male), slender with constricted apex (Fig. |
antennatus |
– | Antennal segment III no more than 50 microns long, apex usually less constricted (Fig. |
6 |
6 | Postocular setae pair IV 75 microns long | fullawayi |
– | Postocular setae pair IV 50 microns long | multispinus |
Neurisothrips antennatus (Moulton): Although described originally from a single male taken on Oahu, this species has been recorded subsequently from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, and Molokai. It has been collected from various plants, including Astelia, Menziesiana, Broussaisia, and Metrosideros.
Neurisothrips carteri (Moulton): Described from a single female taken in a wind trap on Oahu, the arrangement of the setae on the lateral areas of the abdominal tergites seems to be unique (Fig.
Neurisothrips dubautiae (Moulton): The type series of this yellow species comprised seven females and 10 males taken on Oahu from Dubautia, one of the native Asteraceae. Ocellar setae pair III are only 25 microns long, and postocular setae pair IV are about the same length.
Neurisothrips fasciatus (Moulton): Described from a single female taken in a wind trap on Oahu, this species is unique in the genus in having banded fore wings. However it is similar to dubautiae in having unusually short setae on the head, with ocellar setae pair III 25 microns long, and postocular setae pair IV scarcely 15 microns. The abdomen of the holotype is shrunken, thus obscuring details, but there seem to be fewer setae laterally on the tergites than in the other members of this genus.
Neurisothrips fullawayi (Moulton): This brown species appears to be closely similar to multispinus, and longer series of specimens are needed to provide a clearer distinction between them. Described from four females and one male, it has been recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, and Oahu from various plants including Broussaisia, Broussonetia and Pipturus.
Neurisothrips multispinus (Bagnall): Recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu, this is possibly the most common species in this genus, and has been taken from the flowers of various plants including Ipomoea sp. and Styphelia tameiameiae. A dark brown species, it is not currently distinguished satisfactorily from fullawayi.
Neurisothrips williamsi (Moulton): A yellow species with the tergal antecostal ridges and the major setae dark, this species was described from three females. Antennal segments III and IV have their apices narrowed, and there is a group of well-developed setae laterally on the tergites as in multispinus (Fig.
Three species are recognised in this genus, although the distinction between O. bianchi from the Pacific and O. indicus from Asia is not entirely clear (
Organothrips bianchii Hood: Described from Oahu on Colocasia esculenta, this species is also known from Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu, as well as the Palau Islands and Samoa. The fore wing is unusual in shape, curving forwards with the apex slightly rounded.
This genus is possibly polyphyletic. Nine of the 10 included species are from the Palaearctic region, between Europe and Tibet. In contrast, kellyanus is considered Australian in origin but has been introduced to southern Europe. At one time this genus was confused with Megalurothrips, but all the species in that genus breed in the flowers of Fabaceae.
Pezothrips kellyanus (Bagnall): Kelly’s citrus thrips is considered to be originally from eastern Australia, where it is common in various scented, white flowers. However, this citrus pest has been introduced to southern Europe, and is common in New Zealand and New Caledonia. It was intercepted by quarantine in California from Hawaii in 1998, recorded in a pre-departure agricultural inspection at Kona in 2000, and in 2014 was collected from flowers on Hawaii where it is clearly established. The adults have antennal segment III sharply bicoloured, with the constricted apex white in contrast to the dark brown of the rest of this segment (Fig.
This is a New World genus with 19 species listed from various parts of North and South America. Females of these species all have the ovipositor exceptionally weak and lacking strong serrations. Moreover, the males have antennae very different from those of females, with antennal segment III very short but segments IV to VI elongate. All of these species live on Poaceae, but there are no studies on their biology.
Plesiothrips perplexus (Beach): This is the most widespread member of the genus. It is known widely across the Americas, and is common among the Caribbean and Pacific islands, as well as the warmer parts of Australia and New Zealand. It is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and Oahu, where it has been taken from many different grass species, including sugar cane. Like many common thrips species, adults vary in colour, with the abdomen commonly paler than the brown head and thorax.
The nine species listed in this genus apparently all live in the flowers of Pandanus species, the screw pines, between India, northern and eastern Australia, and the Pacific islands. The antennae are characteristic, with segment VIII long and spindle-shaped (Fig.
Projectothrips trespinus (Moulton): Described from Oahu, but also recorded from Hawaii, Kauai and Maui, this species is possibly endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Adults have been collected from various plants, but the species presumably breeds only in the flowers of Pandanus.
Eight of the nine species listed in this genus are from Australia, with one described from Taiwan. However, one of the Australian species is introduced to the Hawaiian Islands along with its host plant. The species of Pseudanaphothrips are similar to Frankliniella species in the following characters: both fore wing veins with complete setal rows, antennae 8-segmented, ocellar setae pair I present in front of the first ocellus. However, Pseudanaphothrips species lack the pair of small setae medially on the pronotal posterior margin, and tergal ctenidia are absent or very weak.
Pseudanaphothrips araucariae Mound & Palmer: This thrips lives in the male cones of Araucaria bidwilli in Australia, but has been found in large numbers on Oahu and Hawaii in the male cones of Araucaria heterophylla, the Norfolk Island pine. It has also been seen from Tahiti. There is a pair of well-developed ctenidia on tergite VIII, but the preceeding tergites bear a scattering of microtrichia on various sculpture lines.
Two species are listed in this Neotropical genus. The first was described from a greenhouse in England but subsequently recorded from Mexico, and the second was described from Oahu. It is one of the few Thripidae with 9-segmented antennae (Fig.
Psydrothrips luteolus Nakahara & Tsuda: Described from Oahu, this species is also known from Florida. It causes damage and malformation to the terminals of Araceae plants, and
There are 17 species listed in this genus, all from the Old World tropics. The genus is characterised by the close proximity of posteromarginal setal pairs I and II medially on sternite VII of females (Fig.
Rhamphothrips pandens Sakimura: Although described from Hawaii, the country of origin of this small yellow species remains unclear. It has been recorded widely across the Pacific, from Northern Australia and New Caledonia, through Polynesia and Kiribati to Florida, Jamaica and other Caribbean territories (
A single species is placed in this Asian genus. It has the head prolonged in front of the eyes (Fig.
Sciothrips cardamomi (Ramakrishna): Apparently specific to the flowers of certain Zingiberaceae, including cardamom, of which it is considered a pest in India. It has also been recorded from such plants in Hawaii and Costa Rica (
This genus includes about 110 species from various warmer parts of the world. Both sexes have closely spaced rows of fine microtrichia on the lateral thirds of the abdominal tergites (Fig.
1 | Head with ocellar setae pair III arising between the posterior ocelli (Fig. |
2 |
– | Head with ocellar setae pair III arising within ocellar triangle, between anterior and posterior ocelli (Fig. |
3 |
2 | Abdominal sternites with rows of microtrichia extending across median area (Fig. |
dorsalis |
– | Abdominal sternites with microtrichia restricted to lateral areas; tergites pale medially but antecostal ridges shaded | inermis |
3 | Pronotum with longest posteroangular setae about 3 times as long as pronotal discal setae; tergites with no dark transverse marking; many closely spaced transverse lines between posterior ocelli | citri |
– | Pronotum with longest posteroangular setae less than 2 times as long as discal setae; tergites with dark transverse antecostal ridge; few widely spaced lines between posterior ocelli | perseae |
Scirtothrips citri (Moulton): The Californian citrus thrips is widespread in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. Moreover, populations that may represent this species can be found across the southern states to Florida. A further complication is that some other Scirtothrips species described from California are very similar to citri and may not be biologically distinct (
Scirtothrips dorsalis Bagnall: This Asian species is widespread from India to Japan and Australia, and has been introduced to Florida and Israel. Highly polyphagous, it is a serious pest on a range of crops across these countries. However, there are problems concerning the identity of some populations, both from morphological data (
Scirtothrips inermis Priesner: Described from the Canary Islands, this species has been reported from various parts of the world, including Europe, Australia, California and Maui. However, it has usually been collected in low numbers, with no evidence of economic damage to any plants. On Norfolk Island it was found to be quite common on the young leaves of several fruit tree crops, but again without evidence of any damage (
Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara: Described from California as a pest on avocado leaves and young fruits, five further synonyms of this species are known from Mexico (
The 14 species included in this genus are well-known as predators of spider mites on a wide range of plants, and are sometimes marketed as biocontrol agents. The genus was erected for sexmaculatus Pergande, a species described from California but known widely across the USA. The name sexmaculatus has also been used for populations in other parts of the world, but these generally are misidentifications of different species that are restricted to the Old World (
1 | Pronotum with pair of posteromedian discal setae (Fig. |
pallidus |
– | Pronotum without paired posteromedian discal setae; fore wing with subbasal and subapical brown areas longer than wide | takahashii |
Scolothrips pallidus (Beach): Described from Iowa, and recorded from Oahu as well as from various localities between Canada and Mexico, this species is possibly no more than a pale form of Scolothrips sexmaculatus, the six-spotted thrips
Scolothrips takahasii Priesner: Under the name priesneri Sakimura, this species has been recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. However, it was first described from Taiwan, and the Hawaiian species was recognized as a synonym by
This genus is closely related to the genus Thrips, and all 38 described species apparently breed only on species of Poaceae. These thrips share all the character states of genus Thrips, but the pair of setae lateral to the fore ocellus on the head (setal pair II) is longer than setal pair III that is associated with the ocellar triangle. Most of the species are from Southeast Asia, although the one first described was from Sudan.
Stenchaetothrips minutus (van Deventer): Described from Java originally, synonyms of this species were described from India, Brazil and Hawaii. It has been found living on various Poaceae, including sugar cane and maize, and is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Oahu. Unlike many species in this genus, the fore wings are brown with only the basal quarter paler.
This genus includes 30 species from the Holarctic region and Southeast Asia (
Taeniothrips eucharii (Whetzel): First described from Bermuda, with two synonyms from Taiwan and Japan, this thrips is widespread in association with various Amaryllidaceae, including Hymenocallis, Eucharis, Lycoris, Narcissus and Zephyranthes, and is common on Liriope (Liliaceae) in Japan (
Nineteen species are listed in this genus, and these differ from Taeniothrips species in having a pair of setae in front of the first ocellus, that is, ocellar setal pair I is present. The genus appears to comprise two major groups. One group of species is from the Old World, mainly Europe, but the second group is known only from California and is referred to by
Tenothrips frici (Uzel): Described from Europe, this small brown species is widespread around the temperate parts of the world in the yellow flowers of weedy Asteraceae, particularly Hypochoeris species. It is established in higher elevations of the Hawaiian Islands where the temperature is cooler, such as Kula area in Maui and the saddle road area in Hawaii. The sculpture of the posterior half of the metanotum is characteristic of this species (Fig.
More than 290 species are listed in this genus from around the world, although none of these is native to the Neotropics. These species all lack pair I of the ocellar setae, and they all have paired ctenidia laterally on the abdominal tergites, the pair on tergite VIII arising posteromesad of the spiracles (Fig.
In addition to the 13 species in this genus dealt with below, Thrips trehernei was recorded by
1 | Abdominal sternites III–VI with no discal setae | 2 |
– | Abdominal sternites III–VI with at least one pair of discal setae present (Figs |
4 |
2 | Body clear yellow; metanotum with pair of campaniform sensilla present (Fig. |
palmi |
– | Body with at least some darker markings; metanotum without paired campaniform sensilla; tergite II with 3 lateral marginal setae | 3 |
3 | Ocellar pigment grey; abdominal pleurotergites, also lateral areas of tergites, with closely spaced rows of ciliate microtrichia (Fig. |
tabaci |
– | Ocellar pigment red; pleurotergites and tergites without ciliate microtrichia; commonly micropterous, macropterae with 3 setae on first vein distal half; compound eyes with 5 pigmented facets; tergites with median setal pair 0.5 as long as the tergite (Fig. |
nigropilosus |
4 | Sternite VII with no discal setae (Fig. |
5 |
– | Sternite VII with several discal setae | 6 |
5 | Sternites III–VI with 5–15 discal setae (Fig. |
parvispinus |
– | Sternites III–VI with 0–6 discal setae (Fig. |
orientalis |
6 | Metanotum with conspicuous reticulation (Figs |
7 |
– | Metanotum with longitudinal sculpture lines at least on posterior half (Figs |
10 |
7 | Fore wing first vein with complete setal row; fore wing clavus with 6 marginal setae | australis |
– | Fore wing first vein with long interruption in setal row; clavus with 5 marginal setae | 8 |
8 | Antennae 7-segmented; pleurotergites each with 2 or 3 discal setae; sternites IV–V with 15-25 discal setae | imaginis |
– | Antennae 8-segmented; pleurotergites without discal setae; sternites IV–V with less than 15 discal setae | 9 |
9 | Metanotal median setae arising behind anterior margin (Fig. |
simplex |
– | Metanotal median setae arising at anterior margin | macullicollis |
10 | Abdominal pleurotergites with discal setae present | alliorum |
– | Abdominal pleurotergites with no discal setae | 11 |
11 | Tergite VIII posterior margin without microtrichial comb (Fig. |
vitticornis |
– | Tergite VIII posterior margin with complete comb of microtrichia (Fig. |
12 |
12 | Fore wing clavus with terminal seta longer than subterminal seta (Fig. |
hawaiiensis |
– | Fore wing clavus with terminal seta shorter than subterminal seta (Fig. |
florum |
Thrips alliorum (Priesner): Described from Taiwan, with one synonymous species described from Hawaii, alliorum is known from Japan, Korea and China living on the leaves of onion plants. It is also recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. In contrast to the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, it is a dark brown species with red ocellar pigments, the pleurotergites and sternites bear discal setae, and tergite VIII has a very weak posteromarginal comb.
Thrips australis (Bagnall): Originally from Australia, the gum tree flower thrips is now found in almost every country where Eucalyptus trees are planted, and it is reported from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu. Adults may alight on many different plants, but this thrips is largely restricted for breeding to the flowers of Eucalyptus species and a few related Myrtaceae. Antennal segment VI is distinctively bullet-shaped (Fig.
Thrips florum Schmutz: Recorded from Hawaii and Oahu, this common Asian species is now found widely from Sri Lanka to northern Australia and across the Pacific. It is also recorded from Florida, and in parts of the Caribbean including the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Guatemala. It is a polyphagous flower-living species, but seems to be of limited economic importance. It is further discussed below under hawaiiensis.
Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan): Recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Midway, Niihau and Oahu, this is the most common flower thrips in the Hawaiian Islands. In many tropical parts of the world it is found in association with florum, but although both species are variable they can be distinguished on the characters indicated in the key above. The variation in size and colour of adult females was studied by
Thrips imaginis Bagnall: The Australian plague thrips was recorded from Styphelia tameiameiae flowers at Haleakala National Park, Hawaii in July, 2003 (
Thrips maculicollis (Hood): Described from northern Australia, and otherwise known only from New Caledonia (
Thrips nigropilosus Uzel: This is a polyphagous, leaf-feeding, yellow species that is known to cause damage to various Asteraceae, including lettuce crops. Originally from Europe, it is widespread around the world, and reported from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu. It is unusual within genus Thrips for being wing polymorphic, and even fully winged females have the median pair of setae on the tergites unusually long and almost half the length of their tergite (Fig.
Thrips orientalis (Bagnall): Commonly associated with the white, scented flowers of Gardenia and Jasminum species, this thrips is recorded from Hawaii and Oahu. It is widespread from India to northern Australia and across the Pacific, but has also been recorded from Tanzania, the Virgin Islands, and Florida. It is sometimes a confusing species to identify, because the number, even the presence, of discal setae on the sternites is so variable between individuals. It is necessary to examine each sternite in order to check this character when identifying a specimen with a reticulate metanotum (Fig.
Thrips palmi Karny: This is considered a major pest on the leaves of various vegetable crops across much of Asia, from India to Japan and northern Australia, and is known as a vector of tospoviruses (
Thrips parvispinus (Karny): Described from Thailand, and widespread in Southeast Asia to northern Australia, this species was found in 2006 damaging the young leaves of papaya at Puna and Hilo Hawaii. As indicated in the key above, it is similar in structure to orientalis, but seems to feed more frequently on leaves rather than flowers.
Thrips simplex (Morison): The gladiolus thrips is probably found wherever these plants are cultivated. It feeds on the leaves and flowers, and the feeding damage is particularly obvious on red flowers as pale linear markings. A dark species, it is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. It is unusual in having about seven setae on the distal half of the fore wing first vein, and in having markings within the reticles on the metanotum (Fig.
Thrips tabaci Lindeman: The onion thrips is a ubiquitous, polyphagous species, although it is not usually found in the wet tropics. It is well known as a pest of onion and garlic plants, and is also a tospovirus vector, and it is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Kure, Lanai, Maui, Midway, Niihau, and Oahu. Adults are unusual with the genus Thrips for having grey, instead of red or orange, ocellar pigment, and a useful diagnostic character is the presence of closely spaced the rows of microtrichia on the pleurotergites (Fig.
Thrips vitticornis (Karny): Described from Thailand, with one synonymous species from Guam, this thrips is widespread from India to the South Pacific islands and northern Australia. A dark species, it is recorded from Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu, and is recognizable by the closely striate sculpture on the metanotum (Fig.
Currently there are 34 species listed in this genus, and
1 | Abdominal sternites with discal setae; tergal antecostal ridge pale brown | cyperaceae |
– | Abdominal sternites without discal setae; tergites uniformly pale yellow | 2 |
2 | Head brown between eyes but pale yellow posterior to eyes; female sternites V–VI with submarginal brown area bearing callosity; male sternites III–VII with 5 pore plates, median one transverse | xanthius |
– | Head pale yellow between eyes with brown band posterior to eyes; female sternites without submarginal brown callosity; male sternites III–VII with 6 pore plates, the 2 median ones oval | oahuensis |
Trichromothrips cyperaceae (Bianchi): Described originally from Hawaii, and also reported from Maui and Oahu, this species has been found in southern California and Bermuda. Apparently specific to Cyperus rotundus, it is probably introduced from somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Trichromothrips oahuensis Nakahara: Described from a few specimens collected from Ocimum basilicum on Oahu, the only other published record of this species is from Rurutu on the Austral Islands (
Trichromothrips xanthius (Williams): This species is sometimes a pest of orchids, including Cattleya and Cypripedium species, but has also been reported from unrelated greenhouse plants including Asystasia and Chrysanthemum. Described from Trinidad but probably originally from Southeast Asia, it has been reported in greenhouses widely across North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
Many people have provided help or support in the preparation of this manual, in particular Fran Calvert and Bob Hollingsworth for sending fresh material from Hawaii, Bernarr Kumashiro and Gillian Watson for much information, Cheryle O’Donnell for help at