Rhipiphorothrips miemsae Jacot-Guillarmod, 1937

Panchaetothripinae, Thripidae, Terebrantia, Thysanoptera

Figures

Fig. 1: 8-segmented antenna, pedicel and segment III, terminal segments V-VIII
Fig. 2: Head dorsal with ocellar triangle
Fig. 3: Pronotum
Fig. 4: Meso- and metanotum
Fig. 5: Metanotum and abdominal tergites I and II
Fig. 6: Fore wing, fore wing basal and distal region
Fig. 7: Tergites VII and VIII

Rhipiphorothrips miemsae causes damage on native trees and shrubs like bushwillows (Combretum sp.) and yellow bitter-apple (Solanum panduriforme). Both sexes fully winged. Head, mesonotum, metascutum and sides of pterothorax brown; metascutellum, abdomen and legs yellow; antennal segments I-V and basal half of VI yellow, apical half of VI and VII & VIII brown; fore wings pale with yellow veins. Antennae 8-segmented; segments III & IV with forked sense cone on a stalked base, VIII more than twice as long as VII (Fig. 1). Head with complex irregular, rugose sculpture; cheeks sharply incut behind eyes and constricted to basal neck (Fig. 2). Pronotum rounded, covered by reticulations and with no long setae (Fig. 3). Mesonotum with complete longitudinal division (Fig. 4). Metanotal reticulate triangle well developed; 1 pair of minute setae near posterior, 1 pair of campaniform sensilla (Fig. 5). Mid and hind tarsi 1-segmented. Fore wing apex rounded with 2 slender cilia; fore wing first vein close to or fused to costal vein; anterior margin with no cilia, posteromarginal cilia straight; veinal setae minute (Fig. 6). Tergites III-VIII strongly sculptured laterally, with median groove of small reticles, and 1 pair of strong median setae (Fig. 7); setae on hind margin of tergites IX and X stout and expanded (fan-shaped at apex); X with complete longitudinal division. Sternal marginal setae minute.
Male similar to female; tergite IX with a pairs of posteromedian fan-shaped setae; sternites III-VII each with a small circular glandular area on anterior margin.

The genus Rhipiphorothrips Morgan, 1913
This genus includes 5 species, all from the Old World. The two African species have a forked sense cone on antennal segments III & IV, whereas these sense cones are simple in the two Oriental species. Furthermore one species known only from China (Zhang & Tong 1993). Members of the genus Rhipiphorothrips are remarkable amongst the Panchaetothripinae because of the curious irregular sculpture on the head. All of them have fore wings without fringe cilia on the anterior margin, and a complete longitudinal division on the mesonotum (Palmer et al. 1989).

Compared to other Panchaetothripinae, Rhipiphorothrips miemsae shows a strong irregular reticulate and rugose sculpture on the head and pronotum, and a complete longitudinal division medially on mesonotum. It is similar to Retithrips syriacus, Phibalothrips peringueyi and Heliothrips sylvanus, with all of them the anterior fringe cilia and long costal setae on the fore wings are missing, posterior fringe cilia straight, wings uniformly pale or light brown, and a dominant or weakly sculptured triangle medially on metanotum. Unlike Rhipiphorothrips miemsae and Retithrips syriacus, Phibalothrips peringueyi has 7-segmented antennae with simple sense cone on segments III & IV, whereas Rhipiphorothrips miemsae and Retithrips syriacus have 8-segmented antennae with forked sense cone on segments III & IV, and Heliothrips sylvanus has also 8-segmented antennae but with simple sense cone on segments III & IV. Retithrips syriacus differs from Rhipiphorothrips miemsae and other species in having polygonal reticles on the head and pronotum with distinct internal wrinkles, (others without), metathoracic furca elongate and Y-shaped (other species with V-shaped metathoracic furca), fore wings bearing anteromarginally 3 curious blister-like callosities, tergite VIII with a complete posteromarginal comb of long strong microtrichia, and minute setae on tergite X.

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
Native trees and shrubs: banyan tree (Ficus indica), Brachystegia filiformis, bushwillows (Combretum sp.), wild rose, yellow bitter-apple (Solanum panduriforme).

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

Damage and symptoms
-

Detection and control strategies
-

Biogeography

Africa. Congo (Eala), Mozambique, Kenya (Thika - Central Province), South Africa (Limpopo: Woodbush, Mokeetsi), Zambia, Zimbabwe.

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