Aeolothripidae, Terebrantia, Thysanoptera

Figures

Allelothrips talithae is a predator of arthropods observed on cereals and grasses. Female macropterous and with a wasp-like waist. Body color yellow to light brown; antennal segments I-IV yellow, segments V-IX brown (Fig. 1 and 2); fore wings with 3 dark transverse bands basally, medially, and apically (Fig. 7). Antennae 9-segmented, elongate; segment III exceptionally long and slender, and about 9-10 times as long as wide; segments III & IV with simple linear, gently undulated sensory areas; length of segment V subequal to VI-IX together (Fig. 1 and 2). Head nearly as wide as long, eyes prolonged ventrally; maxillary palpi 2-segmented (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4). Prothorax rectangular, without long setae (Fig. 5). Mesonotum minutely striate. Metanotum with a distinctive triangular area of striate sculpture, 1 pair of setae at anterior margin and 1 pair near posterior (Fig. 6). Tarsi 2-segmented, fore tarsus apically with stout recurved ventral hamus (Fig. 2). Fore wing slender with apex rounded, cross veins prominent; costal margin with setae but no cilia (Fig. 7). Tergites with discal setae small; tergite X with pair of very small trichobothria (Fig. 9 and 10). Sternites II-VII each with about 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae, and 1-4 discal setae laterally. Sexually dimorphic.
Male smaller than female; antennal segment III distally and segments IV-IX grey-brown; abdomen slender.

The genus Allelothrips Bagnall, 1932
7 species are listed in this genus, 6 from Africa and 1 from India. The genus was defined largely on the number of maxillary palp segments, and the three nominal genera were separated on the fact that the maxillary palpi were 2-segmented (Arhipidothrips), 3-segmented (Pseudoaeolothrips) and 7- or 8-segmented (Allelothrips) (Mound 1968). Now, all of them are united to the genus Allelothrips. Members of the genus have 9-segmented antennae, the metanotum with a distinctive triangular area of striate sculpture, and the antennal sensoria are linear and simple, sometimes gently undulated, but without scalloped margins (Mound & Kibby 1998).

Allelothrips talithae differs from other species of Allelothrips in the much paler, yellow body color. In contrast other Allelothrips species have a mainly brown body color. Most of Allelothrips species have fore wing with 3 dark transverse bands - basally, medially, and apically with extreme apex dark (except for Allelothrips vilardeboi with extreme apex pale), antennal segment IV of female is at least basally or completely pale (except for Allelothrips cincticornis and Allelothrips vilardeboi with antennal segment IV completely brown or dark brown), and antennal segments VI-IX have a brown to dark brown color (except for Allelothrips cincticornis with segments VI-IX pale). Allelothrips talithae as well as Allelothrips brunneus, Allelothrips cincticornis and Allelothrips vilardeboi have antennal segments I & II with pale coloration, in contrast the color of antennal segments I & II of Allelothrips cameroni and Allelothrips tenuicornis is brown, at least in part. Like Allelothrips cincticornis, species exhibits antennal segment III that is about 9-10 times as long as wide (compared to Allelothrips brunneus and Allelothrips tenuicornis with antennal segment III that is 7-8 times as long as wide, and Allelothrips cameroni and Allelothrips vilardeboi with antennal segment III that is only 5-6 times as long as wide). Furthermore, in Allelothrips talithae, Allelothrips brunneus, Allelothrips cincticornis and Allelothrips cameroni the length of antennal segment V of female is subequal to VI-IX together (Allelothrips tenuicornis and Allelothrips vilardeboi with antennal segment V of female, that is much shorter than VI-IX together).
Species of Allelothrips differ from Franklinothrips and Aeolothrips in having a metanotum with a distinctive triangular area of striate sculpture (Aeolothrips fasciatus with metanotum median area with irregular equiangular reticulation; species of Franklinothrips without sculpture medially). Furthermore, Franklinothrips species have antennal sensoria on segments III & IV that are linear with scalloped margins (those of Allelothrips species and Aeolothrips fasciatus are linear and simple but without scalloped margins), and 2 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternites III-VI and 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternite VII (Allelothrips species possess 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternites III-VII; Aeolothrips fasciatus with 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae on sternites III-VII, and 2 pairs of supernumerary setae anterior to marginal setae S1 and S2 on sternite VII). Compared to Aeolothrips fasciatus, species of Allelothrips and Franklinothrips have discal setae laterally on sternites II-VII (Aeolothrips fasciatus without discal setae on sternites).

Host plants
The plants on which Allelothrips talithae are found in association with their prey are cereals and grasses.

Vector capacity
None identified.

Damage and symptoms
-

Detection and control strategie
-

Additional notes
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Biogeography

Afrotropical. Mozambique (Maputo, Xai-Xai, Magude), South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal: Hluhluwe).

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