Phibalothrips peringueyi (Faure, 1925)

Panchaetothripinae, Thripidae, Terebrantia, Thysanoptera

Figures

Fig. 1: 7-segmented antenna, terminal segments IV-VII, pedicel and segments III and IV
Fig. 2: Head dorsal with ocellar triangle, pronotum and antennae
Fig. 3: Head and pronotum
Fig. 4: Head and left fore leg
Fig. 5: Meso- and metanotum
Fig. 6: Head, pronotum and pterothorax
Fig. 7: Fore- and hind wing, fore wing distal region
Fig. 8: Tergites II-IV
Fig. 9: Tergites IV-VI
Fig. 10: Sternites IV-VI with glandular pore plates (male)
Fig. 11: Tergites VIII-XI

Phibalothrips peringueyi damages leaves of various grasses (Poaceae). Both sexes fully winged. Body bicolored; head, pro- and mesothorax and metascutal triangle dark brown; rest of body, legs and antennal segments I-V yellow; antennal segments VI & VII entirely brown; fore wings pale with veins yellow. Antennae 7-segmented; segment II barrel-shaped and with recurved base, III with flange around basal pedicel, III & IV elongate with simple sense cone; V-VII forming a single unit (Fig. 1). Head quadrate, with large independent reticles; cheeks parallel sided constricted at base; vertex with deep grooves around large eyes; ocelli on raised area (Fig. 2). Pronotum transverse, lateral margins expanded; with 2 transverse bands of reticulation; no long setae (Fig. 3). Mesonotum not divided longitudinally. Metascutal dominant sculptured triangle slender and reticulate; median setae small (Fig. 5). Mid and hind tarsi 1-segmented (Fig. 4). Fore wing slender, parallel sided, apex blunt with pair of long cilia; fore wing first vein close to or fused to costal vein; costa without cilia, veinal setae minute; posterior cilia scarcely undulating (Fig. 7). Tergites lateral thirds with polygonal reticulation, many markings within the reticles and a tooth-like comb posteromarginally; tergites medially smooth and with a longitudinally raised ridge; median pair of tergal setae minute (Fig. 8 and 9); X with complete longitudinal division (Fig. 11). Sternal marginal setae minute.
Male similar to female but smaller; tergite IX with a pair of long strong setae; sternites III-VII each with a small oval glandular area near anterior margin (Fig. 10).

The genus Phibalothrips Hood, 1918
4 species are described in this genus. Phibalothrips rugosus from Malaysia, Phibalothrips peringueyi from South Africa and India (Wilson 1975), Phibalothrips longiceps from countries further east and Phibalothrips dispar from Macaronesian Islands (zur Strassen 1974). This genus of grass-living Panchaetothripinae species have a small, slender bicolorous body with reticulated sculpture, 7-segmented antennae with simple sense cone on segments III & IV and segments V-VII forming a single unit. All of them have long, slender, parallel sided fore wings lacking fringe cilia on the anterior margin and long setae (Wilson 1975).

Phibalothrips is a member of the Heliothrips group, and Phibalothrips peringueyi is similar to Retithrips syriacus and Rhipiphorothrips miemsae. With all of them it agrees in having minute costal setae and mostly no cilia on anterior margin of fore wings, straight cilia on posterior margin of fore wings, uniformly pale or light brown fore wings, and a dominant or weakly sculptured triangle medially on metanotum. But only Phibalothrips peringueyi has a distinctive tergal sculpture forming a series of hair clamp-like arches on the antecostal ridges. Unlike Phibalothrips peringueyi, Rhipiphorothrips miemsae and Retithrips syriacus have 8-segmented antennae with forked sense cone on segments III & IV, whereas Phibalothrips peringueyi has 7-segmented antennae with simple sense cone on segments III & IV. Only Rhipiphorothrips miemsae bears a strong irregular reticulate and rugose sculpture on the head, in contrast to other species with polygonal reticles on the head (Retithrips syriacus with distinct internal wrinkles; Phibalothrips peringueyi without internal wrinkles), and has a complete longitudinal division medially on mesonotum (other species with incomplete median division). Compared to the other species, the fore wings of Retithrips syriacus bearing anteromarginally 3 curious blister-like callosities. Furthermore only in Retithrips syriacus the metathoracic furca is elongate and Y-shaped, and tergite VIII has a complete comb of long strong microtrichia (in contrast to Rhipiphorothrips miemsae and Phibalothrips peringueyi with posteromarginal comb of microtrichia absent or only laterally present).

Life history
As with other thrips species the life cycle from egg to adult is dependent on temperature. The full cycle can take about 15 days to over a month and adults may live for more than one month producing several generations in one year depending on seasonal weather (Lewis 1973). With greenhouse temperatures the developmental time from egg to adult can decrease to about one week.

Host plants
Grasses, maize (Poaceae).

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

Damage and symptoms
-

Detection and control strategies
-

Biogeography

Central India, Taiwan, southern Africa. Ethiopia, South Africa (Limpopo: Woodbush; Gauteng: Pretoria), Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Chen L-S (1981). Studies on the Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Taiwan. Plant Protection Bulletin, Taiwan. 23: 117-130

Faure JC (1925). A new genus and five new species of South African Thysanoptera. South African Journal of Natural History. 5: 143-166

Kudo I (1992). Panchaetothripinae in Japan (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), 1. Panchaetothripini, the genera other than Helionothrips. Japanese Journal of Entomology. 60 (1): 109-125

Lewis T (1973). Thrips: their biology, ecology and economic importance. Academic Press Inc., London Ltd., 349 pp

Wilson TH (1975). A monograph of the subfamily Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 23: 1-354

zur Strassen R (1960). Catalogue of the known species of South African Thysanoptera. Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa. 23 (2): 321-367

zur Strassen R (1974). Neue silvicole Fransenflügler von den makaronesischen Inseln (Ins.: Thysanoptera). Senckenbergiana biologica. 55: 105-134

zur Strassen R (2003). Die terebranten Thysanopteren Europas und des Mittelmeer-Gebietes. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Meeresteile nach ihren Merkmalen und nach ihrer Lebensweise, 74. Teil. Goecke & Evers, Keltern, Germany, 277 pp