Karnyothrips flavipes (Jones, 1912)

Phlaeothripinae, Phlaeothripidae, Tubulifera, Thysanoptera

Figures

Fig. 1: 8-segmented antenna, terminal segments VII and VIII
Fig. 2: Head dorsal with ocellar triangle
Fig. 3: Prothoracic sternal plates
Fig. 4: Meso- and metasternum
Fig. 5: Antenna and foreleg with tarsal tooth
Fig. 6: Fore wing
Fig. 7: Tergite IV with S-curved wing retaining setae
Fig. 8: Tergite X (= tube)

Karnyothrips flavipes is a predator of various scale insects (Coccoidea) and commonly found on dead twigs or on leaves in association with other insects (Palmer & Mound 1991). Recently it has also been found to predate on coffee berry borer (Jaramillo et al. 2010). Female macropterous; body color brown; tarsi yellow; tibiae light brown particularly distally (Fig. 5); antennae brown, basal half of segment III mainly yellow (Fig. 1); fore wings and major setae pale; anal setae dark brown. Antennae 8-segmented; segment VIII broad at base; segment III with 2 small sense cones, IV with 2 or 3 (rare 4) sense cones, occasionally with an additional small sense cone. Head longer than wide (Fig. 2); eyes larger dorsally than ventrally; dorsal surface with little sculpture; postocular setae close to posterior margin of eyes, long and capitate; maxillary stylets one third of head width apart; maxillary bridge well developed. Pronotum with anteromarginal setae no larger than discal setae; 4 pairs of slender; capitate major setae, complete epimeral suture. Prosternal basantra slightly longer than wide; mesopraesternum transverse and slender (Fig. 3). Fore tarsus with forwardly directed tooth at inner apex (Fig. 5). Fore wing weakly constricted medially; with about 3 to 4 duplicated cilia (Fig. 6). Pelta reticulate and longer than wide; tergites II-VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae (Fig. 7), these setae weak on II and VII; tergite IX setae S1 long and capitate, setae S2 longer than tube and finely acute; tube shorter than pronotum; anal setae 1.5 to 2.0 times as long as tube or longer (Fig. 8).
Up to now only 2 males have been studied.

The genus Karnyothrips Watson, 1923
More than 45 species are listed in this poorly defined genus Karnyothrips (Mound & Minaei 2007), of which about 30 are from North, Central and South America (Mound & Marullo 1996). A key to 14 species from Central and South America of the genus was given by Mound & Marullo (1996), and a key to 11 species from Japan was given by Okajima (2006). Stannard (1968) included 3 North American species within his treatment of the genus Haplothrips. Mound & Minaei (2007) discussed the problems in distinguishing between these two genera Haplothrips and Karnyothrips. Characteristic features of all members of the genus Karnyothrips are a maxillary bridge, a well developed prosternal basantra, slightly longer than wide, and fore tarsi with a considerably forward directed tooth at the inner apex, and anal setae much longer than tube (Mound & Marullo 1996).

Karnyothrips flavipes is very similar to Haplothrips species in structure, but has a prosternal basantra that is about as broad as long or longer than wide (Haplothrips with a basantra that is distinctly broader than long), anal setae 1.5 to 2.0 times as long as tube or longer (Haplothrips with anal setae mainly no more than 1.5 times as long as tube), anteromarginal pronotal setae not longer than discal setae (Haplothrips with anteromarginal setae usually longer than discal setae), and a fore tarsal tooth near the apex that is forwardly directed and hook-like (Haplothrips without or with a small lateral tooth).
Almost all species of Phlaeothripidae have a mainly brown body color, uniformly fore wings and tergites II-VII each with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae (only Aleurodothrips fasciapennis with a bicolored body, fore wings with transverse alternating bands of dark and light, and tergites II-VII each with 1 pair of wing-retaining setae), and no seta-bearing tubercle on cheeks (only Hoplandrothrips marshalli has cheeks with at least 1 seta-bearing tubercle in basal third or 3 pairs laterally). Karnyothrips flavipes as well as species of Haplothrips and Gynaikothrips have a maxillary stylet position that is about one third of head width apart, and the length of postocular setae is about half to nine tenths as long as eye (in Aleurodothrips fasciapennis the maxillary stylet position is more than half of head width apart, and postocular setae are shorter than distance of the setal base from the eye; in Hoplandrothrips marshalli the maxillary stylet position is about one fifth of head width apart, and postocular setae are as long as dorsal length of eye or a little longer). Karnyothrips flavipes and species of Haplothrips with maxillar bridge and prosternal basantra (species of Gynaikothrips, Hoplandrothrips marshalli and Aleurodothrips fasciapennis have neither a maxillar bridge on head nor a prosternal basantra). Karnyothrips flavipes as well as Hoplandrothrips marshalli, Haplothrips (Haplothrips) gowdeyi, and species of Gynaikothrips have duplicated cilia on posterior margin of fore wing (Aleurodothrips fasciapennis and Haplothrips (Trybomiella) clarisetis without duplicated cilia on posterior margin of fore wing).

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 (Lewis 1973) to over a month and adults may live for more than one month producing several generations in one year depending on seasonal weather.

Host plants
Collected frequently from many habitats, but primarily from dead branches and also on dead leaves and grasses; less commonly in flowers and on leaves.

Vector capacity
None identified.

Damage and symptoms
-

Detection and control strategies
-

Additional notes
Palmer & Mound (1991) record this species as predatory on several species of Diaspididae. Karnyothrips flavipes feeds mainly on scales, mites, whiteflies, and other thrips, and is frequently associated with bamboo and other Poaceae (Priesner 1964). However, it can also be found in the canopy of fruit trees preying on scales, mites, and herbivorous thrips (Childers & Nakahara 2006; Hoddle et al. 2002) and coffee berry borer (Jaramillo et al. 2010).

Biogeography

Widely throughout the tropics and subtropics, Egypt, Kenya (Kisii and Marsabit), South Africa.

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