Thripinae, Thripidae, Terebrantia, Thysanoptera

Figures

Fig. 1: 8-segmented antenna (6. segment with circular suture), terminal segments VI-VIII, segments III and IV with forked sense cone and segment V
Fig. 2: Head, dorsal with ocellar triangle
Fig. 3: Pronotum
Fig. 4: Coloration of head and thorax, dorsal
Fig. 5: Meso- and metanotum
Fig. 6: Fore wing, apical region of fore wing
Fig. 7: Tergites I and II
Fig. 8: Sternite VII
Fig. 9: Tergites VIII and IX, VIII with posteromarginal microtrichial comb

Anaphothrips obscurus is a grass feeding pest and causes damage to cereal crops. Female macropterous or micropterous; body color mainly yellow with light brown markings; distal antennal segments V-VIII light brown; fore wings weakly shaded. Antennae 8-segmented, but segment VI partially divided by an oblique suture producing an apparent 9-segmented condition; segments III & IV with short forked sense cone (Fig. 1). Head with 3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III arise in front of ocellar triangle (Fig. 2). Head and pronotum with no long setae (Fig. 3 and 4). Meso- and metasternal furca without spinula. Metanotum with mainly equiangular reticulation; median pair of setae arise well behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla present (Fig. 5). Mid- and hind tarsi 2-segmented. Fore wing, when developed, with veinal setae shorter than half of wing width: first vein with 2 setae on distal half; second vein with about 9 equally spaced setae (Fig. 6). Tergites with lines of sculpture medially (Fig. 7); VIII with complete posteromarginal comb of short but variable microtrichia (Fig. 9). Sternite VII with median pair of setae arising in front of posterior margin (Fig. 8).
Males unknown, except of a description from samples in Iran (Mirab-balou & Chen 2010).

The genus Anaphothrips Uzel, 1895
Cosmopolitan, about 80 described species in this genus are normally found on plants of the grass familiy, Poaceae. Several species are quite common on many different hosts. Relationships within this genus are unclear (probably restricted to less than 40 species (Nakahara 1995). More than 40 species of this genus recognized as mainly non-grass feeders in Australia (Mound & Masumoto 2009). Members of this genus are macropterous or micropterous, with 8- or apparently 9 segmented antennae (segment VI often devided by a suture near apex), 3 pairs of ocellar setae and 2-segmented tarsi. Head and pronotum without well-developed long setae. Fore wing first vein setal row interrupted and tergite VIII with a complete posteromarginal comb of microtrichia (Mound & Marullo 1996).

Compared to Anaphothrips sudanensis, Anaphothrips obscurus is characterised by the mainly pale or yellow body color, the apparent 9-segmented antennae (segment VI partially divided), fore wings uniformly pale or weakly shaded, metanotal median area sculptured lines with mainly equiangular reticulation, tergites with transverse reticulate lines of sculpture medially, tergite VIII posteromarginal microtrichia are short and irregular on broadly triangular bases, and sternite VII median marginal setae arising in front of posterior margin. Whereas Anaphothrips sudanensis has a sharply bicolored body, 8-segmented antennae, pale fore wings with a dark cross band medially, metanotal median area with equiangular reticulation at anterior but transverse reticulation on posterior half, tergites with no lines of sculpture medially, tergite VIII posteromarginal microtrichia are long on broadly triangular bases, and sternite VII median marginal setae arising near posterior margin.
Anaphothrips is similar to the genus Dichromothrips, Megalurothrips, Tenothrips and Ceratothripoides in lacking tergal ctenidia even on tergite VIII, and lacking regular rows of fine microtrichia on lateral thirds of tergites. Compared to species of Anaphothrips, Dichromothrips priesneri has a head with ocellar setae I absent, a pronotum with 1 pair of long posteroangular setae and a metathorax with a well developed internal spinula and median area without any equiangular reticulation. Anaphothrips as well as Megalurothrips, Tenothrips and Ceratothripoides have 3 pairs of ocellar setae on head and a metathorax without a well developed internal spinula, but in Megalurothrips, Tenothrips and Ceratothripoides the pronotum shows 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae (Anaphothrips without elongate pronotal setae), and on tergite VIII the posteromarginal comb of microtrichia is broadly absent medially in Megalurothrips and Tenothrips (in Anaphothrips and Ceratothripoides tergite VIII with complete posteromarginal comb of microtrichia).

Life history
As with other thrips species the life cycle from egg to adult is dependent on temperature. The length of life cycle varies from 30 days in spring to 12 days in summer (Bailey 1948).

Host plants
Forage grasses, cereal crops: barley, corn, maize, oats, rye, wheat.

Vector capacity
None identified, but possible mechanical distribution of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria.

Damage and symptoms
Causing 'silver top' on blue grass, death of developing shoots of grasses and and stunting, sterile seeds from feeding. 

Detection and control strategies
-

Additional notes
Only females are found and are either fully winged or short winged (pads). The fully winged individuals are yellow with dark markings on the head and abdominal tergites, whereas the short winged individuals are generally clear yellow.

Biogeography

In temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world, cosmopolitan. Algeria (Sidi Ferruch), Egypt (Cairo), Morocco, Canary Islands.

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