Elaphrothrips Buffa

Dang, Li-Hong & Qiao, Ge-Xia, 2013, Review of the spore-feeding Idolothripinae from China (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), ZooKeys 345, pp. 1-28 : 11-12

Elaphrothrips Buffa

Remarks.

Species of this genus can be found in all tropical countries, and 141 species are currently listed, with eight recorded from China: Elaphrothrips denticollis , Elaphrothrips jacobsoni , Elaphrothrips greeni , Elaphrothrips spiniceps , Elaphrothrips fulmeki , Elaphrothrips insignis , Elaphrothrips malayensis and Elaphrothrips procer . The last four are here newly recorded from China, but there are also several undescribed species represented in NZMC. The species Elaphrothrips denticollis is widespread in Southern China, and shares most characters with Elaphrothrips malayensis , especially fore tarsi elongate. There is no satisfactory differentiation between these two species, although Palmer and Mound (1978) distinguished Elaphrothrips denticollis from Elaphrothrips malayensis by antennal segments IV–V being uniformly brown or with the basal stem light brown. This is difficult to assess in many specimens that have been slightly bleached. There is a similar problem with Elaphrothrips fulmeki and Elaphrothripsw malayensis that are distinguished only by antennal segment VI with the basal 1/5 brown or pale. Currently, the identification of some Elaphrothrips species is not satisfactory.

Diagnosis.

Head much longer than wide, projecting in front of eyes, cheeks usually with numbers of stout setae; eyes equally developed ventrally and dorsally, or a little prolonged ventrally; postocular setae well-developed, interocellar setae well developed, and one pair of median dorsal setae usually developed; stylets short and V-shaped; antennae 8-segmented, segment III with 2 sensoria, IV with 4; pronotal major developed setae usually pointed or blunt, notopleural sutures complete or nearly complete; basantra present; mesopraesternum boat-shaped; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent; wings, if present, with duplicated cilia; fore tarsal tooth present in male, absent in female, fore femur of large males usually with sickle-shaped seta on external apical margin; pelta broad, two lateral lobes broadly joined with middle one; abdominal tergites III–VI with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tube surface smooth, without prominent setae; anal setae usually shorter than tube.

Key to Elaphrothrips species from China