<p><strong>Taxonomic studies on <em>Dolichothrips</em> (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae), pollinators of Macaranga trees in Southeast Asia (Euphorbiaceae)</strong></p>

Abstract

Five new species associated with the inflorescences of Macaranga trees are described in the Asian genus Dolichothrips Karny. Four of these, chikakoae, eriae, fialae and utae, are from the Malaysian region where they are involved in the pollination of these trees. The fifth, franae, is described from the Hawaiian Islands but is probably introduced from Southeast Asia, and this species appears also to be a pollinator of its host plant. In contrast, little is known of the biology of the many species of Dolichothrips from India. However, D. indicus (Hood) is here interpreted as a variable, polyphagous and widespread species around the tropics, with D. nesius Stannard and D. pumilus Priesner placed as new synonyms. D. reuteri (Karny) from Australia, is also not restricted to Macaranga, and D. flavipes (Moulton) from Taiwan is here considered a new synonym of reuteri. An identification key is provided to 15 species of this genus, but this excludes five species for which specimens were not available. D. citricrurus Moulton, described from Ethiopia, is transferred to Apelaunothrips Karny.

The species of Haplothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) and related genera recorded from the Hawaiian Islands

“…However, eight females have been studied that were collected in October 2014 from Hibiscus tiliaceus on Oahu, and a breeding population was found on Hawaii in May 2016 on the leaves of Hibiscus brakenridgei . This thrips species is known only from females, and it is likely to have been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands from somewhere in Southeast Asia (Mound and Okajima 2015). In contrast to the following species, the pronotum is extensively sculptured (Fig.…”

“…Although described from India, this species has been found widely across the Pacific, including Japan, Taiwan, Guam, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia (Mound and Okajima 2015). On Hawaii it has been found established on the leaves of Macaranga tanarius , but is not recorded from any of the other Hawaiian Islands.…”

Rediagnoses of the Asian genera Xylaplothrips and Mesandrothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae, Haplothripini), with keys to Australian species

“…Species in these three genera are all associated with leaf galls on their host plants. In contrast, Dolichothrips species are generally leaf-and flower-living, and are known to be pollinators of Macaranga species (Mound & Okajima 2015). Members of this genus have the mouth cone long and pointed, and almost all of them have an additional pair of wing-retaining setae at least on the third abdominal tergite.…”

Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of the Hawaiian Islands: an identification manual

“…Nishida et al (1992) list 10 species of Idolothripinae and 46 species of Phlaeothripinae, whereas the Bishop Museum Hawaiian Arthropod Checklist (2015) lists 10 species of Idolothripinae and 50 species of Phlaeothripinae. Recent changes to the list of Phlaeothripinae (Mound and Okajima 2015) include one newly described species, Dolichothrips franae Mound & Okajima, and one name change with Dolichothrips nesius now a synonym of Dolichothrips indicus . Two genera dominate both lists of Phlaeothripinae: Haplothrips with nine species and Hoplothrips with 18 species.…”