What is a genus-interpreting structural diversity among species of urothripine Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera).

Variation within and between species is discussed in several obvious character states, including the number of visible antennal segments, prolongation of the anterior margin of the head, metaepimeral setae, and anal setae. As a result, Bebelothrips and Conocephalothrips are considered new synonyms of Amphibolothrips, and Baenothrips a new synonym of Stephanothrips. The revised generic classification suggests that urothripines are largely absent from the Neotropics, with four recorded species all likely to be introductions from the Old World.

Systematics and species recognition in Oneilliella Wilson (Thripidae: Panchaetothripinae).

Oneilliella is a poorly sampled Panchaetothripinae genus with two described species based on very few specimens. Here we provide further information about the genus and describe three species: O. chicoi sp. n. and O. wanessae sp. n. from Brazil, and O. tica sp. n. from Costa Rica. We discuss the relationships between Oneilliella and other members of Panchaetothripinae based on morphology. The Indian species Oneilliella shivii Singha et al. requires further study as it is probably not congeneric with the Neotropical lineage recognized here. An illustrated key to the five Oneilliella species is provided.

Enigmatic male dimorphism in the Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), with description of a new genus and species.

Nazonothrips toshifumii gen. et sp. n. is described from unidentified fungus in Taiwan. This fungus-feeding species probably belongs to the tribe Plectrothripini of the subfamily Phlaeothripinae. The males of the new species exhibit a strange allometric growth that appears to involve two patterns of variation, but it is not possible to be certain due to the small number of available specimens.

The Sericothripinae genus Hydatothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in India with description of a new species.

A new species of Hydatothrips is described from India, H. initium. A key to the ten species of Hydatothrips recorded from India is also provided.

Contributions to the knowledge of Thysanoptera (Insecta) from Japan.

For the Thysanoptera fauna of Japan, Masumoto (2016) listed 405 species in 138 genera and four families, Aeolothripidae, Merothripidae, Thripidae and Phlaeothripidae. However, the species total included several undescribed species, and subsequently further genera and species have been described or recorded. Moreover, recently the present authors have found, through the study of collections in the Laboratory of Entomology, Tokyo University of Agriculture, seven more species of six genera that had previously not been known from Japan.

Zootaxa 20th Anniversary Celebration: Insect Order Thysanoptera.

Although the first issue of Zootaxa appeared in 2001 it was not until two years later, in August 2003, that this aspiring and inspiring new journal issued the first paper on the insect Order Thysanoptera, in Volume 268. Moreover, it was not until February 2005 that the second paper concerning this group appeared in Zootaxa. The subsequent expansion is summarized most succinctly by the number of Thysanoptera papers that appeared in Zootaxa in each of the four five-year periods of these two decades: 5; 40; 92; 134 (see Table 1). The 270 papers concerning this group of insects that appeared in Zootaxa over the 20-year period involved more than 120 authors. These papers were submitted by workers from about 30 different countries, but most of them were from areas of high but previously unexplored species diversity, particularly Australia, Brazil, China, India, Iran, Japan and Malaysia. However, significant contributions were submitted from the far north, including Poland and Russia, as well as the far south, such as Argentina and New Zealand. One reason for the popularity of Zootaxa amongst workers on thrips is presumably the knowledge that this section is edited by two active students of these insects. The editors are pleased to have rejected no more than five papers over these two decades, but they provide much help to authors in shaping manuscripts to ensure that the submitted information is both appropriate, scientifically correct, novel and clearly expressed. Moreover, the journal ensures that manuscripts are published very quickly, usually within four weeks of acceptance by the editors. For the readers a further advantage of Zootaxa is that just over 50% of the published articles on Thysanoptera are freely available on the web, as authors have arranged for Open Access. The thrips publications issued in Zootaxa have included descriptions of 563 new species and 41 new genera of Thysanoptera. These new species represent 9% of the 6300 valid extant species currently listed in this Order, and the new genera represent 5% of the 780 currently recognized genera (ThripsWiki 2021). Many of the publications are only of one or two pages and are issued as Correspondence. Each of these deals with a single new species, or a previously unknown male of a species, or some new and particularly unusual record for a country or host plant. At the opposite extreme are the Monographs that involve revisions of all of the species in a genus, such as the 60 species recognised in the South American genus Holopothrips, or the 30 species known in the worldwide genus Mycterothrips. Others provide illustrated keys to large numbers of genera, such as the 100 genera of Phlaeothripinae that have been recorded from South East Asia. Such extensive studies provide the factual resource on which many of the Articles published in Zootaxa are based. These Articles range from taxonomic revisions of small genera, or of the species found in particular geographic areas, through studies on character state variation and homologies, to historical accounts and catalogues. The very considerable increase in information in recent years about the taxonomic and biological diversity of this group of insects (Mound Hastenpflug-Vesmanis2021) owes much to the existence of the journal Zootaxa.

emCopidothrips octarticulatus/em recorded from Tahiti, with first description of the male and larvae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae).

Heliothrips (Parthenothrips) octarcticulatus was originally described by Schmutz (1913) from Sri Lanka. Subsequently, Hood (1954) described from Taiwan a new genus and species Copidothrips formosus, and then Stannard and Mitri (1962) described a further new genus and species, Mesostenothrips kraussi, from Kiribati and Gibert Islands. Bhatti (1967, 1990), recognized that only a single genus and species was involved amongst these names, established the resultant synonymies, and recorded the species octarcticulatus from various localities between the Seychelles and five different Pacific Island groups. It has also been recorded from Northern Australia, and Thailand (ThripsWiki 2021) as well as Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean (Mound 2019). Despite these records, there is little reliable information about host plants and biology apart from Piper myristicum on Pohnpei island (Micronesia), and also damage caused to the leaves of Aglaonema and Spathoglottis at Darwin in Australia (Mound Tree 2020). In this note, we add a further interesting host record and describe the previously unknown male as well as the larvae of this species.

Tubuliferous Thysanoptera in Australia with an enlarged tenth abdominal segment (Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), including six new species.

Remarkable structural variation in the tenth abdominal segment of some Phlaeothripidae species is discussed, together with its behavioural significance. Two tropical genera are newly recorded from Australia: in Acallurothrips Bagnall four species are recorded, A. darumbali sp.n., A. erubi sp.n., A. yagara sp.n. and A. nogutii Kurosawa, and in Neosmerinthothrips Schmutz two species are recorded, N. barrowi sp.n. and N. turrbali sp.n. The genus Ozothrips was previously based on five species from New Zealand, but O. meanjini sp.n. is here described from Queensland. Four species of Pygothrips are recorded from Australia, a genus that is widespread in tropical countries.

A multiplex PCR assay for rapid identification of major tospovirus vectors reported in India.

BACKGROUND: To date, four thrips vectors have been reported to transmit five different tospoviruses in India. Their identification at an early stage is crucial in formulating appropriate pest management strategies. Since morphometric key-based thrips identification based on the adult stage is time-consuming, there is a need to develop diagnostic tools which are rapid, accurate, and independent of developmental stages. Here, we report a multiplex PCR assay to identify four major thrips vectors viz. Thrips palmi, T. tabaci, Scirtothrips dorsalis, and Frankliniella schultzei present in India. RESULTS: Cytochrome oxidase subunit III and internal transcribed spacer region 2 were utilized to design species-specific primers. Of 38 pairs of primers tested, primer pairs AG35F-AG36R, AG47F-AG48R, AG87F-AG88R, and AG79F-AG80R amplified 568 bp, 713 bp, 388 bp, and 200 bp products from the DNA templates of T. palmi, S. dorsalis, T. tabaci, and F. schultzei, respectively at same PCR conditions. The specificity of the primer pairs was validated with a large number of known specimens and no cross-reactivity was observed with other thrips species. The multiplex PCR assay with a cocktail of all the four primer pairs detected four thrips vectors efficiently and could discriminate all of them concurrently in a single reaction. CONCLUSION: The multiplex PCR reported in this study could identify the major thrips vectors reported in India. The assay will be useful in ascertaining distribution profile of major thrips vectors, disease epidemiology, screening large samples, and quarantine.

Rearrangement and evolution of mitochondrial genomes in Thysanoptera (Insecta).

Prior to this study, complete mitochondrial genomes from Order Thysanoptera were restricted to a single family, the Thripidae, resulting in a biased view of their evolution. Here we present the sequences for the mitochondrial genomes of four additional thrips species, adding three extra families and an additional subfamily, thus greatly improving taxonomic coverage. Thrips mitochondrial genomes are marked by high rates of gene rearrangement, duplications of the control region and tRNA mutations. Derived features of mitochondrial tRNAs in thrips include gene duplications, anticodon mutations, loss of secondary structures and high gene translocation rates. Duplicated control regions are found in the Aeolothripidae and the 'core' Thripinae clade but do not appear to promote gene rearrangement as previously proposed. Phylogenetic analysis of thrips mitochondrial sequence data supports the monophyly of two suborders, a sister-group relationship between Stenurothripidae and Thripidae, and suggests a novel set of relationships between thripid genera. Ancestral state reconstructions indicate that genome rearrangements are common, with just eight gene blocks conserved between any thrips species and the ancestral insect mitochondrial genome. Conversely, 71 derived rearrangements are shared between at least two species, and 24 of these are unambiguous synapomorphies for clades identified by phylogenetic analysis. While the reconstructed sequence of genome rearrangements among the protein-coding and ribosomal RNA genes could be inferred across the phylogeny, direct inference of phylogeny from rearrangement data in MLGO resulted in a highly discordant set of relationships inconsistent with both sequence-based phylogenies and previous morphological analysis. Given the demonstrated rates of genomic evolution within thrips, extensive sampling is needed to fully understand these phenomena across the order.

A simple molecular identification method of the Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) cryptic species complex.

The onion thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman, 1889) is a key pest of a wide range of crops because of its ecological attributes such as polyphagy, high reproduction rate, ability to transmit tospoviruses and resistance to insecticides. Recent studies revealed that T. tabaci is a cryptic species complex and it has three lineages (leek-associated arrhenotokous L1-biotype, leek-associated thelytokous L2-biotype and tobacco-associated arrhenotokous T-biotype), however, the adults remain indistinguishable. T. tabaci individuals were collected from different locations of Hungary to create laboratory colonies from each biotypes. Mitochondrial COI (mtCOI) region was sequenced from morphologically identified individuals. After sequence analysis SNPs were identified and used for CAPS marker development, which were suitable for distinguishing the three T. tabaci lineages. Genetic analysis of the T. tabaci species complex based on mtCOI gene confirmed the three well-known biotypes (L1, L2, T) and a new biotype because the new molecular evidence presented in this study suggests T-biotype of T. tabaci forming two distinct (sub)clades (T1 and T2). This genetic finding indicates that the genetic variability of T. tabaci populations is still not fully mapped. We validated our developed marker on thrips individuals from our thrips colonies. The results demonstrated that the new marker effectively identifies the different T. tabaci biotypes. We believe that our reliable genotyping method will be useful in further studies focusing on T. tabaci biotypes and in pest management by scanning the composition of sympatric T. tabaci populations.

Spectral sensitivity of L2 biotype in the Thrips tabaci cryptic species complex.

The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Lindeman, 1889), is a cosmopolitan pest of economic importance on a wide range of crops. Despite being one of the most studied thrips species, there is very limited knowledge available about its ability to perceive light. The T. tabaci cryptic species complex consists of a tobacco-associated (T) and two leek-associated (L1, L2) biotypes. We made electroretinogram recordings on the most widespread thelytokous (where unfertilized eggs produce females) T. tabaci L2 biotype and measured attraction to light sources in this biotype as a function of wavelength in behavioural experiments. The spectral sensitivity of the T. tabaci L2 biotype shows a unimodal curve peaking at λmax = 521 nm. Contrary to this spectral sensitivity curve, L2 biotype attraction in an arena is bimodal with local maxima at 368 nm (UV) and 506-520 nm (green) being practically of the same magnitude. Although being similar to the arrhenotokous (where unfertilized eggs produce males) L1 biotype in phototaxis, significant differences regarding photoreceptor cell responses emerged. This study contributes to our understanding of light perception in Thysanoptera as well as to the development of more effective monitoring tools for this economically important pest species.

The XIth International Symposium on Thysanoptera and Tospoviruses Co-sponsored by Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Nanjing Agricultural University in Kunming, China 2019.

The XIth International Symposium on Thysanoptera and Tospoviruses co-hosted by the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Nanjing Agricultural University was held from September 21-25 in Kunming, China (Figure 1) [...].

Discovery of Novel Thrips Vector Proteins That Bind to the Viral Attachment Protein of the Plant Bunyavirus Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus.

The plant-pathogenic virus tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) encodes a structural glycoprotein (GN) that, like with other bunyavirus/vector interactions, serves a role in viral attachment and possibly in entry into arthropod vector host cells. It is well documented that Frankliniella occidentalis is one of nine competent thrips vectors of TSWV transmission to plant hosts. However, the insect molecules that interact with viral proteins, such as GN, during infection and dissemination in thrips vector tissues are unknown. The goals of this project were to identify TSWV-interacting proteins (TIPs) that interact directly with TSWV GN and to localize the expression of these proteins in relation to virus in thrips tissues of principal importance along the route of dissemination. We report here the identification of six TIPs from first-instar larvae (L1), the most acquisition-efficient developmental stage of the thrips vector. Sequence analyses of these TIPs revealed homology to proteins associated with the infection cycle of other vector-borne viruses. Immunolocalization of the TIPs in L1 revealed robust expression in the midgut and salivary glands of F. occidentalis, the tissues most important during virus infection, replication, and plant inoculation. The TIPs and GN interactions were validated using protein-protein interaction assays. Two of the thrips proteins, endocuticle structural glycoprotein and cyclophilin, were found to be consistent interactors with GN These newly discovered thrips protein-GN interactions are important for a better understanding of the transmission mechanism of persistent propagative plant viruses by their vectors, as well as for developing new strategies of insect pest management and virus resistance in plants.IMPORTANCE Thrips-transmitted viruses cause devastating losses to numerous food crops worldwide. For negative-sense RNA viruses that infect plants, the arthropod serves as a host as well by supporting virus replication in specific tissues and organs of the vector. The goal of this work was to identify thrips proteins that bind directly to the viral attachment protein and thus may play a role in the infection cycle in the insect. Using the model plant bunyavirus tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), and the most efficient thrips vector, we identified and validated six TSWV-interacting proteins from Frankliniella occidentalis first-instar larvae. Two proteins, an endocuticle structural glycoprotein and cyclophilin, were able to interact directly with the TSWV attachment protein, GN, in insect cells. The TSWV GN-interacting proteins provide new targets for disrupting the viral disease cycle in the arthropod vector and could be putative determinants of vector competence.

RNA sequencing, selection of reference genes and demonstration of feeding RNAi in Thrips tabaci (Lind.) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

BACKGROUND: Thrips tabaci is a severe pest of onion and cotton. Due to lack of information on its genome or transcriptome, not much is known about this insect at the molecular level. To initiate molecular studies in this insect, RNA was sequenced; de novo transcriptome assembly and analysis were performed. The RNAseq data was used to identify reference and RNAi pathway genes in this insect. Additionally, feeding RNAi was demonstrated in T. tabaci for the first time. RESULTS: From the assembled transcriptome, 27,836 coding sequence (CDS) with an average size of 1236 bp per CDS were identified. About 85.4% of CDS identified showed positive Blast hits. The homologs of most of the core RNAi machinery genes were identified in this transcriptome. To select reference genes for reverse-transcriptase real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) experiments, 14 housekeeping genes were identified in the transcriptome and their expression was analyzed by (RT-qPCR). UbiCE in adult, 28s in nymphs and SOD under starvation stress were identified as the most stable reference genes for RT-qPCR. Feeding dsSNF7 and dsAQP caused 16.4- and 14.47-fold reduction in SNF7 and AQP mRNA levels respectively, when compared to their levels in dsGFP fed control insects. Feeding dsSNF7 or dsAQP also caused 62 and 72% mortality in T. tabaci. Interestingly, simultaneous feeding of dsRNAs targeting SNF7 or AQP and one of the RNAi pathway genes (Dicer-2/Aubergine/Staufen) resulted in a significant reduction in RNAi of target genes. These data suggest the existence of robust RNAi machinery in T. tabaci. CONCLUSION: The current research is the first report of the assembled, analyzed and annotated RNAseq resource for T. tabaci, which may be used for future molecular studies in this insect. Reference genes validated across stages and starvation stress provides first-hand information on stable genes in T. tabaci. The information on RNAi machinery genes and significant knockdown of the target gene through dsRNA feeding in synthetic diet confirms the presence of efficient RNAi in this insect. These data provide a solid foundation for further research on developing RNAi as a method to manage this pest.

Thrips species (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with flowers in a restinga fragment in northeastern Brazil / Espécies de tripes (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associadas a flores em um fragmento de restinga no nordeste brasileiro

Abstract With the growing volume of research involving Thysanoptera in Brazil, studies were carried out to improve our understanding of the diversity of thrips in areas where the fauna has historically been neglected. Accordingly, we recorded the diversity of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with a restinga fragment located on the campus of the State University of Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, Ceará state, and computed the estimated richness and diversity indices. Samples were collected from 2011 through 2013 from flowers of 86 plant species. The material was taken to the Laboratory of Insect-Plant Interaction, where thrips were screened under stereomicroscope. We collected 456 adults and 58 immatures, representing 14 species, in addition to one unidentified species of Treherniella. Microcephalothrips abdominalis was found on a large number of host plants, and Frankliniella insularis was the most common species. About two-thirds of the total richness of thrips species was associated with three plant families (Amaranthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Poaceae); six thrips species were each associated with only one plant species. The richness of the species collected was close to that estimated by Bootstrap and Jackknife 1 analysis. The Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (D) diversity indexes were 1,7607 and 0.7769, respectively. Although the species are common, 46 new associations between plant species and thrips were established, 13 of which are true host associations, which demonstrates the importance of coastal vegetation in maintaining populations of thrips.

Resumo Com o crescente volume de pesquisas envolvendo Thysanoptera no Brasil, estudos foram promovidos para melhorar nosso entendimento da diversidade de tripes em área onde a fauna tem sido historicamente negligenciada. Dessa maneira, neste trabalho registramos a diversidade de tripes (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associada a um fragmento de restinga localizado no Campus da Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), município de Fortaleza, estado do Ceará, e computamos a riqueza estimada de espécies e índices de diversidade. Foram realizadas coletas entre os anos de 2011 a 2013 em flores de 86 espécies vegetais. O material foi levado ao Laboratório de Interação Inseto-Planta (UECE) onde os tripes foram triados manualmente sob estereomicroscópio. Foram coletados 456 tripes adultos e 58 imaturos, representando 14 espécies, além de uma espécie não identificada de Treherniella. Microcephalothrips abdominalis foi encontrado em um maior número de plantas hospedeiras, e Frankliniella insularis foi a espécie mais frequente. Cerca de dois-terços da riqueza total de espécies de tripés está associada a três famílias botânicas (Amarnthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae e Poaceae); seis espécies de tripes foram encontradas em associação com somente uma espécie vegetal. A riqueza de espécies coletada foi próxima daquela estimada pelas análises Bootstrap e Jackknife 1. Os índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener (H') e Simpson (D) foram 1.7607 e 0,7769, respectivamente. Embora as espécies identificadas sejam comuns, 46 novas associações entre tripes e espécies vegetais foram constatadas, 13 das quais são associações hospedeiras verdadeiras, o que demonstra a importância da vegetação costeira na manutenção das populações de tripes.

Thrips species (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with flowers in a restinga fragment in northeastern Brazil.

With the growing volume of research involving Thysanoptera in Brazil, studies were carried out to improve our understanding of the diversity of thrips in areas where the fauna has historically been neglected. Accordingly, we recorded the diversity of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) associated with a restinga fragment located on the campus of the State University of Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, Ceará state, and computed the estimated richness and diversity indices. Samples were collected from 2011 through 2013 from flowers of 86 plant species. The material was taken to the Laboratory of Insect-Plant Interaction, where thrips were screened under stereomicroscope. We collected 456 adults and 58 immatures, representing 14 species, in addition to one unidentified species of Treherniella. Microcephalothrips abdominalis was found on a large number of host plants, and Frankliniella insularis was the most common species. About two-thirds of the total richness of thrips species was associated with three plant families (Amaranthaceae, Caesalpiniaceae and Poaceae); six thrips species were each associated with only one plant species. The richness of the species collected was close to that estimated by Bootstrap and Jackknife 1 analysis. The Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson (D) diversity indexes were 1,7607 and 0.7769, respectively. Although the species are common, 46 new associations between plant species and thrips were established, 13 of which are true host associations, which demonstrates the importance of coastal vegetation in maintaining populations of thrips.

Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): a Newly Introduced Polyphagous Pest in Northeastern Brazil.

We report for the first time the detection of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Brazil and describe the occurrence of the thrips on leaves of ungrafted dwarf-cashew Anacardium occidentale Linnaeus 1753 (Anacardiaceae), maintained into a greenhouse, in the northeastern state of Ceará. This exotic polyphagous species listed as absent quarantine pest in the country is originated in Asia, but since the beginning of this century, it has readily dispersed despite the strict quarantine regulations currently in several countries. Individuals of S. dorsalis identified in Brazil are similar to specimens found in South Africa rather than Asia by virtue of the absence of conspicuous reticulation on the posterior half of the metanotum and the presence of complete lines of microtrichia restricted to the posterior part of the abdominal sternites. Scirtothrips dorsalis is a particularly invasive pest and its introduction represents a potential threat to various crops in Brazil, especially mango.

Species Identification in the Thrips Genus-Group in Brazil.

The Thrips genus-group is a monophyletic taxon composed of 17 genera, whose representatives exhibit three main synapomorphies: absence of ocellar setae I, presence of ctenidia on tergites V-VIII, and ctenidia on tergite VIII positioned posteromesad to the spiracles. The group is native to and more diverse in the Old World, especially in Southeast Asia, but several species are widely distributed, including some pests of cultivated plants. Here, we provide an identification key to the species of the Thrips genus-group currently recorded in Brazil, including three new records of Bolacothrips striatopennatus (Schmutz), Thrips florum Schmutz, and Thrips orientalis (Bagnall), and present notes on their morphology and biology. Stenchaetothrips biformis Bagnall is excluded from the list of thrips recorded in Brazil.