Aeolothripidae, Terebrantia, Thysanoptera

Figures

Fig. 1: Antennal segment IV, terminal segments V-IX, 9-segmented antenna
Fig. 2: Head dorsal with ocellar triangle
Fig. 3: Head ventral with prolonged compound eyes
Fig. 4: Pronotum
Fig. 5: Meso- and metanotum
Fig. 6: Fore wing, distal region of fore wing
Fig. 7: Foreleg with recurved hook
Fig. 8: Tergites V and VI
Fig. 9: Sternites VI-VIII
Fig. 10: Genital and postgenital segments of a female with ovipositor
Fig. 11: Tergites IX-XI (male)

Aeolothrips fasciatus is a facultative predator of small arthropods including larvae of other thrips. Apart from the predatory feeding behaviour, they also survive on pollen. Both sexes are fully winged. Body, legs and antennae dark brown, except antennal segment III yellow with extreme apex brown, antennal segment II yellowish at apex (Fig. 1). Antennae 9-segmented, segment III with linear sense cone near apex rather less than one third as long as segment, on IV linear sense cone about half length of segment and curved distally; segment IV longer than V; segments V-IX forming a single unit with V about the same length as VI-IX together; segments VI-VIII short and almost sub-equal in length. Head and pronotum with no long setae (Fig. 2 and 4); eyes prolonged posteriorly on ventral surface of head (Fig. 3); maxillary palps 3-segmented. Mesonotum with one pair of median setae. Metanotum reticulate medially, median setae near posterior margin (Fig. 5). Fore wings dark with 3 white cross bands, sub-basally, medially and at apex, median band scarcely longer than wing width and shorter than distal dark band; costal vein pale around pale areas of wing (Fig. 6). Fore wing slender with apex rounded, cross veins prominent; costal margin with setae but no cilia. Tarsi 2-segmented, fore tarsus with recurved hamus meeting apex of stout seta (Fig. 7). Tergite I with few transverse striae; all tergites with discal setae small (Fig. 8); tergite X without paired trichobothria or scarcely developed . Sternites IV-VII each with 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae; sternite VII with 2 pairs of small supernumerary setae arising in front of marginal setae S1 and S2 (Fig. 9).
Male smaller than female, tergite I longer than wide with 2 longitudinal ridges; tergite IV & V sometimes with very small paired dorsal tubercles; tergite IX posteroangular setae much longer than paired claspers on this segment.

The genus Aeolothrips Haliday, 1836
Over 90 species are placed currently in the genus Aeolothrips, a genus of the northern temperate zone, of which more than 50 species are from the Palaearctic Region (mainly Europe), and 28 from the Nearctic (mainly western USA). Most of them are flower-living species and seem to be facultative predators, feeding on other thrips and mites as well as on pollen (Mound & Kibby 1998). It is replaced by Desmothrips in Australia, by Allelothrips in Africa, and by Stomatothrips in South America. However, members of these 3 genera all have the sternites bearing discal setae, a character state that is rare in species of Aeolothrips (Moritz et al. 2001). Members of the genus Aeolothrips have 9-segmented antennae, the metanotum is mainly irregular reticulate medially, and the antennal sensoria are linear and simple, sometimes gently undulated, but without scalloped margins.

Aeolothrips fasciatus differs from other Aeolothripidae in having metanotum median area with irregular equiangular reticulation (species of Allelothrips have a metanotum with a distinctive triangular area of striate sculpture; Franklinothrips species without sculpture medially), and no discal setae on sternites III-VI (Franklinothrips and Allelothrips with discal setae laterally on sternites II-VII). Compared to Aeolothrips and Allelothrips which have antennal sensoria on segments III & IV that are linear and simple, those of Franklinothrips are linear and elongate with scalloped margins. Furthermore, Aeolothrips and Allelothrips species possess 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternites III-VII (Aeolothrips fasciatus with 2 pairs of supernumerary setae anterior to marginal setae S1 and S2 on sternite VII), Franklinothrips species possess 2 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternites III-VI and 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternite VII.

Host plants
Found in the flowers of a range of plants, with no recorded specificity.
Crops: African nightshade, alfalfa, beans (broad bean, common bean, French bean, garden pea), buckwheat, cabbage, capsicum, chillies, clover, kale, lily, oats, onion, peach, potato, tobacco, tomato, wheat.
Weeds: Bidens pilosa, Chenopodium sp., Brugmansia suaveolens, Gamolepis chrysanthemoides, Justicia sp., Nycandra physalodes, Pentanisia ouranogyne, Raphanus raphanistrum, Senecio mesogrammoides, Tagetes minuta, Tanacetum cinerariifolium, Tithonia diversifolia.

Vector capacity
None identified.

Damage and symptoms
-

Detection and control strategies -

Additional notes
As in most Aeolothrips species, the adults and larvae of Aeolothrips fasciatus live in flowers as facultative predators, feeding on small arthropods and presumably on pollen. Aeolothrips fasciatus is described as a predator of Frankliniella occidentalis (Baker 1988), Thrips tabaci (El-Serwiy et al. 1985; Ferrari 1980) and Neohydatothrips variabilis (Robinson et al. 1972).
In California the species has two generations per year. It can live temporarily on plants, but it needs an arthropod diet to complete its preimaginal development (Robinson et al. 1972).

Biogeography

Females identified as this species have been recorded widely around the world, but males have been studied only from Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Azores, Hokkaido, New Zealand, Tasmania, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa (Northern Cape: Little Namaqualand; Western Cape: Mossel Bay; Eastern Cape: Katberg).

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