Scientific name

Aduncothrips asiaticus (Ramakrishna Ayyar & Margabandhu, 1931)

Taxonomic position

Thysanoptera: Terebrantia: Aeolothripidae

Diagnosis

Body brown. All tibiae and tarsi lemon yellow. Antennae 9-segmented, last three antennal segments forming a unit, sensory cones on antennal segments III and IV clearly sinuate, confining to the entire length of the segments and incompletely encircling the apex of each segment like a hook, sensory cones on V, VI, VII, VIII clearly elongate. Fore wing broad and rounded at apex. Fore wing with a dark longitudinal band along posterior margin. Tarsi 2-segmented. Ovipositor curved upwards.

Images

 Fig. 1. Dorsal habitus

 
Fig. 2. Head - ventral view                    Fig. 3. Head and prothorax - dorsal view

 Fig. 4. Fore wing and antenna

   
Fig. 5. Meso and metanota       Fig. 6. Ovipositor

Distribution

India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu).

Hosts / Prey

This species is predatory on several pest thrips such as Retithrips syriacus, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Haplothrips ganglbaueri, Frankliniella schultzei and Caliothrips indicus.

Reference

  • Ramakrishna Ayyar, T. V. and Margabandhu, V. 1931. Notes on Indian Thysanoptera with brief descriptions of new species. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 34(4): 1025-1040 (original description).