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ZooKeys 317: 27–52, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.317.5447
An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from Iran
Majid Mirab-balou 1,2, Kambiz Minaei 3, Xue-Xin Chen 1
1 Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
2 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran
3 Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Fars, Iran

Corresponding author: Xue-Xin Chen (xxchen@zju.edu.cn)

Academic editor: Laurence Mound

received 1 May 2013 | accepted 16 July 2013 | Published 18 July 2013


(C) 2013 Majid Mirab-balou. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


For reference, use of the paginated PDF or printed version of this article is recommended.


Citation: Mirab-balou M, Minaei K, Chen X-X (2013) An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from Iran. ZooKeys 317: 27–52. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.317.5447


Abstract

An illustrated key is provided for the identification of 35 genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from Iran with comments for each genus. Chirothrips maximi Ananthakrishnan and Limothrips cerealium Haliday are recorded from Iran for the first time. A checklist is provided of Thripinae recorded from this country.

Keywords

Thysanoptera, Thripinae, identification, Iran

Introduction

The family Thripidae (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) at present comprises more than 2000 described species, which are classified into four subfamilies, Thripinae, Dendrothripinae, Sericothripinae, and Panchaetothripinae (Bhatti 1989). The present study follows the interpretation of Thripinae in this classification. Another recent classification of Terebrantia (Bhatti 2006) recognizes three superfamilies and 12 families for taxa included in the four subfamilies of Thripidae, and the taxa of the earlier subfamily Thripinae are included in three families (Chirothripidae, Projectothripidae, and Thripidae) (Bhatti 2006).

Thripinae (sensu Bhatti 1989) comprising 1600 species in 230 genera worldwide is the largest subfamily. Members of Thripinae exhibit a wide range of biologies. Many species live in flowers, on leaves, some species live in both habitats, particularly the pest species, and a few species are predators. In this subfamily, several genus-groups, which are probably monophyletic, have been recognized, including the Anaphothrips genus-group, the Frankliniella genus-group, the Megalurothrips genus-group, the Scirtothrips genus-group, the Trichromothrips genus-group, the Taeniothrips genus-group and the Thrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a, Mound 2002, Masumoto and Okajima 2005, 2006, 2007, Mound and Masumoto 2009).

Countries of the eastern Mediterranean comprised the most important centre for the early development of human civilization, including the development of the agricultural systems on which so much of mankind depends. In contrast, our knowledge of the natural biological systems of this area has been less actively developed. Despite excellent floristic studies, such as Flora Iranica that now provides an identification system to more than 10, 000 plant species, comprehensive studies on the insect fauna of this area are sadly lacking. Iran, in particular, is a bridge between the faunas of the European and Oriental Realms, and this produces considerable difficulties in studying any single group.

Keys are available for species of some Iranian genera, such as for the genera of Thrips and Frankliniella genus-groups (Minaei et al. 2007; Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a), and the Megalurothrips genus-group (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011b).

Within the 35 genera of Thripinae that are now listed from Iran, many species are widely distributed and their habitats are known. The species of several genera are grass-living, including Agalmothrips, Anaphothrips, Aptinothrips, Bregmatothrips, Chirothrips, Collembolothrips, Exothrips, Limothrips, Sitothrips, Sphaeropothrips, Stenchaetothrips, and Stenothrips. On the other hand, many species especially in Thrips and Frankliniella live in various flowers, and theseinclude economic pests of agricultural crops, fruit trees, ornamental plants, greenhouses (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a, Mirab-balou et al. 2012a). A few are predators, such as species of Scolothrips and Parascolothrips, playing an important role in checking the multiplication of tetranychid mites (Mound 2011b).

An annotated bibliography of publications on Thysanoptera of Iran was provided by Bhatti et al. (2009a). However there is not any available key to distinguish the genera. The objective of this paper is to provide an identification key to the 35 genera of Thripinae that can be recognized currently in Iran. Comments are provided for each genus. A checklist of Thripinae known from Iran are also represented here.

Material and methods

For new records, thrips have been prepared and mounted on slides using the method of Mirab-balou and Chen (2010a) and specimens are deposited in the Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (ZJUH). All descriptions, measurements and photos were made with a Leica DM IRB microscope, a Leica MZ APO microscope with a Leica Image 1000 system. All measurements are given in micrometers (μm).

Key to genera of Thripinae from Iran
1 Pronotum without any posteroangular setae longer than discal setae (Fig. 5) 2
– Pronotum with at least one pair of posteroangular or posteromarginal setae longer than discal setae (Figs 1–4, 6) 5
2 Antennal segments III and IV each with a simple sensorium 3
– Antennal segments III and IV each with a forked sensorium 4
3 Antennae 9-segmented (cf. Fig. 26); apterous or macropterous; abdominal sternites without discal setae; tarsi 2-segmented; male with a transverse pore plate on abdominal sternites III–VII Agalmothrips
– Antennae 6- or 8-segmented (Fig. 29); apterous; abdominal sternites with or without discal setae; tarsi 1- or 2-segmented (tarsi 2-segmented if antennae 8-segmented, in Aptinothrips stylifer Trybom); male without pore plate on abdominal sternites Aptinothrips
4 Median pair of setae (S1) on abdominal tergites II–VIII shorter than distance between their bases (Fig. 12); abdominal tergite VIII with comb at posterior margin Anaphothrips
– Median pair of setae (S1) on abdominal tergites II–VIII longer than distance between their bases; abdominal tergite VIII without comb at posterior margin Rubiothrips
5 Abdominal tergites V–VIII each with a pair of lateral ctenidia 6
– Abdominal tergites V–VIII without ctenidia 13
6 Abdominal tergite VIII with ctenidium situated antero-lateral to spiracle 7
– Abdominal tergite VIII with ctenidium situated posteromesad of spiracle 9
7 Pronotum anterior margin without long setae (cf. Fig. 1); mesosternum without spinula; maxillary palp 2-segmented (cf. Fig. 20) Sitothrips
– Pronotum anterior margin with 1 or 2 pairs of setae much longer than discal setae (Fig. 6); mesosternum with spinula (cf. Fig. 15); maxillary palp 3-segmented (cf. Fig. 22) 8
8 Fore tarsus with a small tooth at apex (Fig. 23); ocellar setae pair III inserted between posterior ocelli; abdominal sternite VII of female with S1 setae inserted ahead of posterior margin (cf. Fig. 36) Kakothrips
– Fore tarsus without tooth (Fig. 21); ocellar setae pair III arising at a level ahead of posterior ocelli (Fig. 9); abdominal sternite VII of female with S1 setae arising at posterior margin (Fig. 38) Frankliniella
9 Mesothoracic sternopleural sutures absent; antennal segment II without seta basad of campaniform sensillum Sphaeropothrips
– Mesothoracic sternopleural sutures present; antennal segment II with dorsal seta basad of campaniform sensillum 10
10 Prosternal basantra with several small setae; abdominal tergites at posterior margin with large triangular teeth (Fig. 45) Microcephalothrips
– Prosternal basantra without setae; posterior margin of abdominal tergites without teeth; head not distinctly smaller than pronotum 11
11 Postocular setae pair II inserted far back of the others; abdominal tergites III–V with three setae arranged straight line along the lateral margin Stenothrips
– Postocular setae pair II not displaced to the posterior although it is often slightly behind setal row; abdominal tergites III–V with three setae arranged not in straight line, median setae far from the lateral margin 12
12 Ocellar setae pair II longer than ocellar setae pair III Stenchaetothrips
– Ocellar setae pair II not longer than ocellar setae pair III (Fig. 10) Thrips
13 Spinula absent on mesosternum 14
– Spinula present on mesosternum (Fig. 15) 18
14 Abdominal tergite X of female with a pair of prominent thorn-like setae (Fig. 8); pronotum with a pair of well developed posteroangular setae. [Male apterous, with a pair of short stout setae medially on tubercles on abdominal tergite IX (Fig. 44)] Limothrips
– Abdominal tergite X of female without such thorn-like setae (Fig. 42); pronotal posteroangular setae variable 15
15 Abdominal sternite VII of female with posteromarginal setae S1 and S2 arising closer to each other than to setal pair S3 Exothrips
– Abdominal sternite VII of female with posteromarginal setae arising equidistant from each other 16
16 Abdominal tergites with median pair of campaniform sensilla close to the posterior margin (Fig. 7); abdominal sternite II with three pairs of posteromarginal setae. [Male apterous, and bicolored yellow and brown (Fig. 35)] Bregmatothrips
– Abdominal tergites with median pair of campaniform sensilla arising at anterior third (cf. Figs 14, 46); abdominal sternite II with two pairs of posteromarginal setae 17
17 Pronotum broadly rectangular, with 3 pairs of posteromarginal setae; antennal segment II not prolonged laterally; fore tarsus with a curved tooth (Fig. 18); maxillary palp 2-segmented Collembolothrips
– Pronotum trapezoidal, with 5–8 pairs of posteromarginal setae (Fig. 1); antennal segment II usually projecting laterally (Fig. 30); fore tarsus without tooth (Fig. 16); maxillary palp 3-segmented Chirothrips
18 Metasternum with prominent spinula 19
– Metasternum without spinula 24
19 Antennae 6-segmented (cf. Fig. 29) Drepanothrips
– Antennae 7- or 8-segmented (Figs 27–28) 20
20 Antennae 7-segmented, VII slightly longer than VI; tarsi 1-segmented (cf. Fig. 17) Parascolothrips
– Antennae 8-segmented; tarsi 2-segmented 21
21 Pronotum with six pairs of very long setae (Fig. 2) Scolothrips
– Pronotum with no more than two pairs of elongate setae 22
22 Abdominal tergites without numerous microtrichia occupying lateral thirds, rarely with a few microtrichia near lateral margins; maxillary palp 2-segmented (cf. Fig. 20) Psilothrips
– Abdominal tergites with lateral thirds fully covered with numerous microtrichia (Fig. 37); maxillary palp 3-segmented (cf. Fig. 22) 23
23 Pronotum with two pairs of prominent posteroangular setae; antennal segment I with pair of dorsoapical setae; males of some species with antennal segment VI three times as long as segment V (Fig. 40) Mycterothrips
– Pronotum with closely spaced lines of sculpture, without long setae, or only one pair of prominent posteroangular setae (Fig. 4); antennal segment I without dorsoapical setae; antennae not sexually dimorphic Scirtothrips
24 Spiracles on abdominal tergite VIII with area of specialised sculpture extending to antecostal ridge Chaetanaphothrips
– Spiracles on tergite VIII without extensive area of specialised sculpture 25
25 Head with 4 or more pairs of ocellar setae Florithrips
– Head with 2 or 3 pairs of ocellar setae 26
26 Setae on fore wing first and second veins very long, longest seta twice as long as wing width Euphysothrips
– Setae on fore wing first and second veins shorter, longest seta scarcely as long as wing width 27
27 Pronotum with four pairs of setae well-developed; antennae 9-segmented Ficothrips
– Pronotum with one or two pair of posteroangular setae well-developed, with no long anteromarginals and anteroangulars setae 28
28 Pronotum with two pairs of posteroangular setae well-developed 29
– Pronotum with one pair of posteroangular setae 33
29 Head with only one pair of anteocellar setae (ocellar seta pair I absent) (cf. Fig. 10) Taeniothrips
– Head with two pairs of anteocellar setae (ocellar seta pair I present) (cf. Figs 9, 11) 30
30 Sensorium on antennal segment VI with elongate base (Fig. 31); fore tibia usually with 1 or 2 claw-like processes at apex; fore tarsus often with 1 or 2 small tubercles (Fig. 19) Odontothrips
– Base of sensorium on antennal segment VI not elongate; fore tibia without tubercles 31
31 Fore wing first vein with nearly complete row of setae and short interval before two distal setae (Fig. 34); clavus with 4 or 5 veinal setae Megalurothrips
– Fore wing upper vein with setal row broadly interrupted, with 1+2 distal setae (cf. Fig. 33); clavus usually with 5 veinal setae 32
32 Antennal segment I without pair of dorsoapical setae; male with a single oval or circular pore plate on each of abdominal sternites III–VII (Fig. 43) Tenothrips
– Antennal segment I with a pair of dorsal apical setae (Fig. 32); male with numerous small pore plates on abdominal sternites III–VII (Fig. 41) Pezothrips
33 Antennae 9-segmented Eremiothrips [in part]
– Antennae 7- or 8-segmented 34
34 Abdominal tergites III–VI with lines of sculpture medially; sternites without discal setae Oxythrips
– Abdominal tergites without lines of sculpture medially; sternites with or without discal setae (Fig. 39) 35
35 Head longitidunaly striate behind eyes; abdominal sternite II with 0–4 discal setae Tamaricothrips
– Head weakly striate behind eyes; abdominal sternite II without discal setae Eremiothrips [in part]
Figures 1–8.

Thripinae genera. 1 Chirothrips aculeatus, pronotum 2 Scolothrips longicornis head and pronotum 3–6 pronotum 3 Limothrips angulicornis 4 Tenothrips frici 5 Aptinothrips stylifer 6 Frankliniella occidentalis, 7 Bregmatothrips bournieri abdominal tergite VI 8 Limothrips angulicornis, abdominal tergite X.

Figures 9–15.

Thripinae genera. 9–11 Head, 9 Frankliniella occidentalis 10 Thrips alliorum 11 Tenothrips frici, 12–14 Abdominal tergite VII 12 Anaphothrips obscurus 13 Rubiothrips vitis 14 Chirothrips aculeatus, abdominal tergites VII–VIII, 15 Megalurothrips distalis, Meso- and metasterna, showing spinula.

Figures 16–25.

Thripinae genera. 16–19 Fore tibia and tarsus, 16 Chirothrips aculeatus 17 Limothrips cerealium 18 Collembolothrips mediterraneus 19 Odontothrips loti, 20 Limothrips cerealium, maxillary palps 21 Frankliniella occidentalis, fore tarsus 22 Megalurothrips distalis, maxillary palps 23–24 Fore tibia and tarsus 23 Kakothrips pisivorus 24 Sitothrips arabicus 25 Bregmatothrips bournieri, mesonotum and metascutum.

Figures 26–34.

Thripinae genera. 26–32 Antennae, 26 Anaphothrips obscurus 27 Pezothrips kellyanus 28 Microcephalothrips abdominalis 29 Aptinothrips elegans 30 Arorathrips mexicanus 31 Odontothrips confusus, sensoria on segment VI 32 Trichromothrips sp., dorsal apical setae on segment I 33–34 Fore wing 33 Taeniothrips inconsequens 34 Megalurothrips distalis.

Figures 35–40.

Thripinae genera. 35 Bregmatothrips bournieri, apterous male 36 Pezothrips kellyanus, abdominal sternite VII 37 Scirtothrips dorsalis, abdominal tergites V–VI 38 Frankliniella tenuicornis; abdominal sternite VII 39 Microcephalothrips abdominalis, abdominal sternites V–VI 40 Mycterothrips consociatus, antennal segment IV–VIII, male.

Figures 41–46.

Thripinae genera. 41 Pezothrips kellyanus, pore plates on abdominal sternites V–VII 42 Pezothrips kellyanus, abdominal tergite X 43 Tenothrips frici, pore plate on abdominal sternite V 44 Limothrips angulicornis, short stout setae medially on tubercles on abdominal tergite IX 45 Microcephalothrips abdominalis, abdominal tergites VI–VIII 46 Chirothrips molestus, abdominal tergites III–IV.

Agalmothrips Priesner
Remarks.

Included here only from descriptions, the sole species in this genus, Agalmothrips parviceps Priesner, was described from Sudan (Priesner 1964), subsequently reported and re-characterized from India (Bhatti 1978). It was reported from Iran by zur Strassen (2003b) based on two males and eight females collected on Kochia sp. (Chenopodiaceae), in Ahwaz region (Khuzestan province). Agalmothrips was included in the Anaphothrips genus-group (Mound and Masumoto 2009).

Anaphothrips Uzel
Remarks.

This genus includes 79 species in the world (ThripsWiki 2013), and many of these are grass-living. In Iran, only Anaphothrips obscurus (Müller) and Anaphothrips sudanensis Trybom have been reported (Bhatti et al. 2009a). Recently, the male of the widely distributed species Anaphothrips obscurus is described only from Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2010b).

Aptinothrips Haliday
Remarks.

The four species included in this genus (Mirab-balou et al. 2011a) are all apterous. Three of these are known from Iran: Aptinothrips elegans Priesner, Aptinothrips rufus (Haliday) and Aptinothrips stylifer Trybom (Bhatti et al. 2009a). The genus is included in the Anaphothrips genus-group (Mound and Masumoto 2009).

Bregmatothrips Hood
Remarks.

This is a common genus of grass-living species in tropical and subtropical areas (Mound and Marullo 1996; Mound 2011a), with nine species worldwide (Mound 2011a, ThripsWiki 2013) of these Bregmatothrips bournieri Pelikán is found in Iran (Pelikán 1988; Bhatti et al. 2009a). This genus is closely related to Sorghothrips by having antennal segment I with paired median dorsoapical setae, and the abdominal tergites with posteromarginal craspeda and the median campaniform sensilla close to the posterior margin (Masumoto and Okajima 2006).

Chaetanaphothrips Priesner
Remarks.

This is an Asian leaf-living genus (Pitkin 1977), and now includes 20 species (ThripsWiki 2013). Several of these are widespread around the world, and are considered pests on their host plants. Chaetanaphothrips theiperdus is a pest of tea in Java and Peninsular Malaysia; Chaetanaphothrips leeuweni (Karny), Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton) and Chaetanaphothrips signipennis (Bagnall) are pests of Bananas in some tropical countries (Kudô 1985, Mound and Marullo 1996); Chaetanaphothrips orchidii is a most widely distributed polyphagous species and is also recorded as a pest of some ornamental plants in greenhouses in Europe and North America (Kudô 1985, Mound and Ng 2009). Species of this genus may be distinguished from other Thripinae by the presence of modified spiracles on abdominal tergite VIII. This genus was reported from Iran by Esmaili (1983), based on an undetermined species (Chaetanaphothrips sp.) noted as pest of citrus fruits in Iran.

Chirothrips Haliday
Remarks.

Species of this genus breed only in the flowers of grasses and are readily recognized from the shape of the head, pronotum, fore legs and antennae. This genus includes 53 species in the world (ThripsWiki 2013). Six species in Chirothrips and two species in Agrostothrips Hood have been reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a) but subsquentley Minaei and Mound (2010) considered Agrostothrips as a synonym of Chirothrips and five species and one species-group (manicatus group) have been recognized in this country. A key also to the Chirothrips species from Iran was given by Minaei and Mound (2010).

Chirothrips maximi Ananthakrishnan
Remarks.

This speciesis here recorded from Iran for the first time, based on one apterous male.Hamedan province: Hamedan, Qahavand, from Salvia nemorosa (Lamiaceae), 20.viii.2010, coll. M. Mirab-balou (in ZJUH). The male of this speciesis easily distinguished from other species of Chirothrips by having small pore plates on abdominal sternite III and IV.

Collembolothrips Priesner
Remarks.

This genus comprises two grass-living species (ThripsWiki 2013) of which Collembolothrips mediterraneus Priesner has been reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). It is easily distinguished from other thripine in Iran by the absence of a spinula on both the meso- and metathoracic furca, also the lack of ocelli and wings, and the 2-segmented maxillary palps.

Drepanothrips Uzel
Remarks.

This monobasic genus is included in Scirtothrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a; Masumoto and Okajima 2007). Drepanothrips reuteri Uzel is easily recognized from other Iranian genera by precense of the 6-segmented antennae. It is known as a pest of grapes in some areas (Mound et al. 1976; Masumoto 2010).

Eremiothrips Priesner
Remarks.

This genus with 18 species (ThripsWiki 2013) is included in Anaphothrips genus-group (Mound and Masumoto 2009). Bhatti et al. (2003) published a catalogue of the Eremiothrips in Iran with key for separating the nine species of this genus. Recognition of species of Eremiothrips based on females is extremely difficult, since the general appearance and fine structural details of females are very similar in related species. However, males can be assigned readily to species because of distinctive structural features (Bhatti et al. 2003). In Iran, the genus includes 12 species (Bhatti et al. 2009b, Ramezani et al. 2009, Minaei 2012a) and a key to Iranian Eremiothrips based on the male sex is available (Minaei 2012a).

Euphysothrips Bagnall
Remarks.

This genus includes two species (ThripsWiki 2013). Both are known from India but Euphysothrips minozzii Bagnall has been reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). The fore wing chaetotaxy is unique, with very long setae on the veins (Mound and Ng 2009).

Exothrips Priesner
Remarks.

This genus comprises 18 grass feeding species (ThripsWiki 2013), and is represented in Iran by Exothrips redox Bhatti (Bhatti et al. 2009a). Bhatti (1975) provided an identification key to 10 species from India, and indicated that these are associated with Poaceae.

Ficothrips Minaei
Remarks.

This genus originally described from Iran with only one species, Ficothrips moundi (Minaei 2012b). This monobasic genus is superficially similar to Scolothrips or Parascolothrips. Morphologically, Ficothrips is interesting because simultaneously bears two charchter states that have been evolved rarely in Thripidae: nine antennal segments and severall long setae on the pronotum. The species was collected on fig leaves infested by Eotetranychus hirsti Pritchard and Baker (Acari, Tetranychidae) and the low density of species suggest that it may be a predator on that mite (Minaei 2012b).

Florithrips Bhatti
Remarks.

This genus includes two species in the world (ThripsWiki 2013), of these Florithrips traegardhi was recorded from Iran on the base of a few specimens collected on corn and wheat in Khozestan Province (Ramezani et al. 2012). Leaf damage to cereal crops is recorded for this species (Mound and Kibby 1998).

Frankliniella Karny
Remarks.

This is a large genus of about 230 species, 90% of which are from Neotropics (Mound and Marullo 1996), with only five species recorded from Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a). The genus can be recognized by having ctenidia anterolateral to each spiracle on abdominal tergite VIII, presence of five pairs of long pronotal setae, and a complete setal row on both upper and lower veins of the fore wings (Mound and Marullo 1996). A key to Iranian species is available in Mirab-balou and Chen (2011a). The species of this genus recorded from Iran are most associated with the family Rosaceae (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a). The reports of two species from Iran have not been accepted (Bhatti and zur Strassen 2009): Frankliniella cephalica (D.L. Crawford) and Frankliniella tritici (Fitch).

Kakothrips Williams
Remarks.

This genus includes seven species (ThripsWiki 2013), of which three are recorded from Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a). Kakothrips is included in the Frankliniella genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a; Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a). This genus is distinguished from Frankliniella by moderately developed ctenidia laterally on abdominal tergites VI–VII whereas well-developed in Frankliniella, and the pronotum lacks a pair of minor setae medially on the posterior margin. In addition, males of Kakothrips species have a pair of stout tubercles laterally on tergite VIII, whereas none of the Frankliniella species has such structures (Moritz et al. 2001). Zur Strassen (2003a) provided a key to seven species from Europe; and a key to the three species in Iran is available in Mirab-balou and Chen (2011a).

Limothrips Haliday
Remarks.

This western Palaearctic genus includes eight species (ThripsWiki 2013), of which four species have been reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). Females of this genus can be distinguished easily from other genera of Thripinae by having abdominal tergite X with short, stout, spine-like median setae (zur Strassen 2003a, Masumoto 2010).

Limothrips cerealium Haliday is here recorded from Iran for the first time, based on one apterous female: Azarbaijan-e-Sharghi province: Tabriz, Miyaneh, from harvested wheat, Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae), 26.vi.2009, M. Mirab-balou, (in ZJUH).

This species is distinguished from other species by tarsi 1-segmented, absence of ocelli, and antennal segments III and IV with simple sensoria. This European pest of cereal crops is now widespread throughout the temperate and subtropical areas of the world. Adults are usuallymacropterous, but apterae have been recorded from Sardinia (Karny 1914) and Corsica (Mound and Palmer 1973), and now from Iran.

Megalurothrips Bagnall
Remarks.

Thirteen species are included in this genus (ThripsWiki 2013), all breeding in the flowers of Fabaceae some as pests of cultivated legumes (Masumoto 2010). Recently, Megalurothrips distalis (Karny) was recorded from Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011b). The members of this genus all have a pair of dorso-apical setae on the first antennal segment, and abdominal tergite VIII with many scattered microtrichia anterior to the spiracles (Mound and Ng 2009).

Microcephalothrips Bagnall
Remarks.

This monobasic genus is included in Thrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a; Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a), from which it can be distinguished by the key above. Microcephalothrips abdominalis lives in the flowers of various Asteraceae, particularly sunflower, Helianthus annuus (Palmer 1992; Mound and Marullo 1996). The macropterous morph is common in Iran. Recently one micropterous male was collected on grasses from Ilam Province, and is firstly recorded of micropterous morph for Iran.

Mycterothrips Trybom
Remarks.

The 27 known species of Mycterothrips (ThripsWiki 2013) are leaf-feeding thrips, and some of them are associated with agricultural crops (Masumoto and Okajima 2006). An identification key to five species from Taiwan was provided by Wang (1999), a key to seven species has been provided by zur Strassen (2003a), and a key to 27 species by Masumoto and Okajima (2006). Up to now, four species have been recorded from Iran, with two new species described recently (Mirab-balou et al. 2011b).

Odontothrips Amyot & Serville
Remarks.

The 31 species of this genus (ThripsWiki 2013) are typical flower-living thrips, and most are associated with plants of the family Fabaceae. They can cause slight damage to the flowers, but only Odontothrips confusus is an important pest (Pitkin 1972). Megalurothrips peculiaris which sensorium base is similar to Odontothrips, and recorded from India and Bangladesh. This genus is included in the Megalurothrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a) and four species have been recorded from Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011b). Odontothrips confusus Priesner is widely distributed in Iran, and populations are sometimes high on alfalfa, Medicago sativa.

Oxythrips Uzel
Remarks.

This genus includes 50 species (ThripsWiki 2013), of which five species are known from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). Oxythrips is included in Anaphothrips genus-group (Mound and Masumoto 2009).

Parascolothrips Mound
Remarks.

This monobasic genus with one predatory species, Parascolothrips priesneri Mound, has been reported from Iraq (Mound 1967, ThripsWiki 2013). Mound (1967) described the species from Iraq with three pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternites II–VI, but in Iranian specimens, there are three pairs of setae on sternite II and four pairs on sternites III–VI.

Pezothrips Karny
Remarks.

This genus is placed in the Megalurothrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a; Mirab-balou and Chen 2011b) and currently includes 10 species (Mirab-balou and Tong 2012). Only one species, Pezothrips bactrianus (Pelikan), has been reported from Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011b).

Psilothrips Hood
Remarks.

Included here only from descriptions, this genus includes five species in the world (ThripsWiki 2013) of which Psilothrips bimaculatus (Priesner) has been reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a).

Rubiothrips Schliephake
Remarks.

This genus includes seven species (ThripsWiki 2013), and one of these has been recorded from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). The genus is included in the Anaphothrips genus-group (Mound and Masumoto 2009), and is distinguished from Anaphothrips by having abdominal tergites with median pair of setae (S1) longer than inter-distance (zur Strassen 2003a).

Scirtothrips Shull
Remarks.

The genus Scirtothrips currently includes 103 species (ThripsWiki 2013), and two of these have been recorded from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). It includes several important pest species (Mound and Palmer 1981b, Mirab-balou et al. 2012b). The report of Scirtothrips citri (Moulton) from Iran has not been accepted (Bhatti and zur Strassen 2009).

Scolothrips Hinds
Remarks.

Species of the genus Scolothrips are well known as predators of mites on the leaves of plants. The genus is easy to recognize by the presence of six pairs of very long setae on the pronotum, and the fore wings with dark bands, although recognition of species within the genus has remained difficult (Mound 2011b). Currently 16 species are recognized (ThripsWiki 2013), of which three are reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a); but the report of Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Pergande) from Iran has not been accepted (Bhatti and zur Strassen 2009).

Sitothrips Priesner
Remarks.

This genus includes four species (ThripsWiki 2013) of which Sitothrips arabicus Priesner has been recorded from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a, Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a). This genus is included in the Frankliniella genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a). It is distinguished from other members of this group by lack of long setae on the anterior margin of the pronotum, the meso- and metathoracic furcae both without a spinula, the maxillary palps 2-segmented, and the fore tarsi with two small teeth (one at the apex of the tarsus, the other at the end of the first segment) (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a). A key to three species of Sitothrips is available in zur Strassen (2003a). In some parts of Iran, like as Golestan province, Sitothrips arabicus is largely present on wheat and barley (Alavi et al. 2007)

Sphaeropothrips Priesner
Remarks.

This monotypic genus includes a single grass-living species, Sphaeropothrips vittipennis (Bagnall) that was recorded from Iran by Minaei et al. (2007). It is included in Thrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a).

Stenchaetothrips Bagnall
Remarks.

This genus includes 35 species (ThripsWiki 2013) and it is associated with the plant family Poaceae. Stenchaetothrips biformis is widely distributed, and was recorded from Iran by Mirab-balou and Chen (2011a). The genus is included in Thrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a; Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a) and is closely related to Thrips, but it can be distinguished by the length of ocellar setae II as in the above key, and the metanotum is generally longitudinally striate (Mound and Ng 2009).

Stenothrips Uzel
Remarks.

The only species in this genus, Stenothrips graminum Uzel, was recorded from Iran by Minaei et al. (2007). It is a member of Thrips genus-group (Mound and Palmer 1981a).

Taeniothrips Amyot & Serville
Remarks.

This genus includes 25 species in the world (Mound et al. 2012; ThripsWiki 2013). Taeniothrips inconsequens (Uzel) is the only species recorded from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a).

Tamaricothrips Priesner
Remarks.

Only one species is placed in this genus, is also recorded from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a). This species is possibly more widespread in association with Tamarix species (zur Strassen 2003a). The genus is included in Anaphothrips genus-group (Mound and Masumoto 2009).

Tenothrips Bhatti
Remarks.

This genus includes 19 flower-living species in the world (ThripsWiki 2013), of which Tenothrips frici (Uzel), is widespread around the world in warm temperate areas (Mound and Marullo 1996; Mirab-balou and Tong 2013). Bhatti (2003) reviewed this genus, listing 19 species. Four species are reported from Iran (Bhatti et al. 2009a), especially on the plant family Asteraceae, and Tenothrips frici is widely distributed in this country.

Thrips Linnaeus
Remarks.

This genus includes about 280 species in the world and is the largest genus in the Thripinae (ThripsWiki 2013), and includes 29 species in Iran (Mirab-balou et al. 2012a; Minaei 2012c). The genus shows extensive diversity in most parts of the world except the Neotropical region, and includes many species of economic importance (Bhatti 1980). Several species of Thrips are considered crop pests in various parts of the world, such as Thrips angusticeps Uzel, Thrips flavus Schrank, Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Thrips meridionalis Priesner, and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Moritz et al. 2001). The latter species is well known as the most important pest of onion crops, greenhouses and ornamental plants in Iran (Mirab-balou and Chen 2011a, Mirab-balou et al. 2012b), and is a vector of some Tospovirus diseases on plants.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Prof. J.S. Bhatti of New Delhi, India for his critical comments and suggestions on a draft of this paper and for supplying some useful references; to Dr. Laurence A. Mound of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra, Australia for supplying some references and his critical comments; and to Prof. Xiao-li Tong of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China for supplying some references. The authors are grateful to anynomous referees for their comments and criticisms.

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Appendix
Checklist of Thripinae known from Iran

Agalmothrips parviceps Priesner

Anaphothrips obscurus (Müller)

Anaphothrips sudanensis Trybom

Aptinothrips elegans Priesner

Aptinothrips rufus (Haliday)

Aptinothrips stylifer Trybom

Bregmatothrips bournieri Pelikan

Chaetanaphothrips sp.

Chirothrips aculeatus Bagnall

Chirothrips africanus Priesner

Chirothrips atricorpus Girault

Chirothrips kurdistanus zur Strassen

Chirothrips manicatus (Haliday)

Chirothrips maximi Ananthakrishnan

Chirothrips meridionalis Bagnall

Chirothrips molestus Priesner

Chirothrips pallidicornis Priesner

Collembolothrips mediterraneus Priesner

Drepanothrips reuteri Uzel

Eremiothrips antilope (Priesner)

Eremiothrips arya (zur Strassen)

Eremiothrips bhattii Minaei

Eremiothrips dubius (Priesner)

Eremiothrips efflatouni (Priesner)

Eremiothrips farsi Bhatti and Telmadarraiy

Eremiothrips shirabudinensis (Jaknontov)

Eremiothrips similis Bhatti

Eremiothrips taghizadehi (zur Strassen)

Eremiothrips tamaricis (zur Strassen)

Eremiothrips varius (Bhatti)

Eremiothrips zurstrasseni Bhatti, Bagheri, and Ramezani

Euphysothrips minozzii Bagnall

Exothrips redox Bhatti

Ficothrips moundi Minaei

Florithrips traegardhi (Trybom)

Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom)

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)

Frankliniella pallida (Uzel)

Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom)

Frankliniella tenuicornis (Uzel)

Kakothrips dentatus Knechtel

Kakothrips pisivorus (Westwood)

Kakothrips priesneri Pelikan

Limothrips angulicornis Jablonowski

Limothrips cerealium Haliday

Limothrips denticornis (Haliday)

Limothrips schmutzi Priesner

Limothrips transcaucasicus Savenko

Megalurothrips distalis (Karny)

Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford)

Mycterothrips consociatus (Targioni-Tozzetti)

Mycterothrips hamedaniensis Mirab-balou, Shi and Chen

Mycterothrips latus (Bagnall)

Mycterothrips salicis (Reuter)

Mycterothrips tschirkunae (Yakhontov)

Mycterothrips weii Mirab-balou, Shi and Chen

Odontothrips confusus Priesner

Odontothrips meliloti Priesner

Odontothrips loti (Haliday)

Odontothrips phlomidinus Priesner

Oxythrips claripennis Priesner

Oxythrips halidayi Bagnall

Oxythrips retamae (Priesner)

Oxythrips ulmifoliorum (Haliday)

Oxythrips wiltshirei Priesner

Parascolothrips priesneri Mound

Pezothrips bactrianus (Pelikan)

Psilothrips bimaculatus (Priesner)

Rubiothrips vitis (Priesner)

Scirtothrips citri (Moulton)

Scirtothrips mangiferae Priesner

Scolothrips latipennis Priesner

Scolothrips longicornis Priesner

Scolothrips rhagebianus Priesner

Sitothrips arabicus Priesner

Sphaeropothrips vittipennis (Bagnall)

Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall)

Stenothrips graminum Uzel

Taeniothrips inconsequens (Uzel)

Tamaricothrips tamaricis (Bagnall)

Tenothrips discolor (Karny)

Tenothrips frici (Uzel)

Tenothrips latoides (Pelikán)

Tenothrips reichardti (Priesner)

Thrips alavii Mirab-balou, Tong and Chen

Thrips alliorum (Priesner)

Thrips angusticeps Uzel

Thrips atratus Haliday

Thrips australis (Bagnall)

Thrips coloratus Schmutz

Thrips dubius Priesner

Thrips euphorbiae Knechtel

Thrips flavus Schrank

Thrips fraudulentus (Priesner)

Thrips fuscipennis Haliday

Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan)

Thrips iranicus Yakhontov

Thrips major Uzel

Thrips mareoticus (Priesner)

Thrips meridionalis (Priesner)

Thrips minutissimus Linnaeus

Thrips nigropilosus Uzel

Thrips pelikani Schliephake

Thrips physapus Linnaeus

Thrips pillichi Priesner

Thrips pistaciae Yakhontov

Thrips simplex (Morison)

Thrips tabaci Lindeman

Thrips trehernei Priesner

Thrips trybomi (Karny)

Thrips verbasci (Priesner)

Thrips vuilleti (Bagnall)

Thrips vulgatissimus Haliday