Idolothripinae
Bagnall, 1908
spore-feeding thrips
Idolothripinae is a of ( ) within the , established by Bagnall in 1908. The subfamily comprises approximately 82 distributed primarily across tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. Members are characterized by feeding on fungal spores, a dietary specialization that distinguishes them from many other thrips groups. Several genera, including Phaulothrips, Bactrothrips, Tiarothrips, Elaphrothrips, and Loyolaia, have been studied for their breeding biology and reproductive strategies.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Idolothripinae: /ˌaɪdəˌloʊˈθraɪpɪniː/
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Habitat
Dead material including dead leaves across the Old World tropics; dry fruiting capsules of Eucalyptus trees; abandoned tunnels of and . preferences vary by and region.
Distribution
Widespread across the Old World tropics from Africa to Japan; Australia; Southeast Asia including Peninsular Malaysia; New Zealand; tropical regions generally. Specific distribution varies by .
Diet
Fungal spores (sporophagous). Feeding on spores is the defining dietary characteristic of this .
Host Associations
- Eucalyptus - breeding siteDead seed capsules and dry fruiting capsules used by Australian Phaulothrips and Bactrothrips
- bees - breeding siteAbandoned tunnels used by some Phaulothrips
- scolytid beetles - breeding siteAbandoned tunnels used by some Phaulothrips
Ecological Role
; contributes to through consumption of fungal spores on decaying material.
More Details
Reproductive diversity
Some Idolothripinae exhibit diverse reproductive strategies including , , and . Tiarothrips subramanii, Elaphrothrips denticollis, and Elaphrothrips procer show grades of these strategies. Loyolaia indica has been reported to undergo reproductive .
Sexual dimorphism
In Bactrothrips, males typically possess on the but lack fore tarsal ; this structural difference has significance in sexual .
Structural variation
Some exhibit remarkable variation in the tenth abdominal , with behavioral significance noted for these morphological differences.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Australian spore-feeding thrips of the genus Phaulothrips (Thysanoptera, Idolothripinae)
- Reproductive strategies and behavioural attributes in some sporophagous Idolothripinae (Tubulifera: Thysanoptera)
- Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera of the genus Bactrothrips (Phlaeothripidae – Idolothripinae)
- Tubuliferous Thysanoptera in Australia with an enlarged tenth abdominal segment (Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), including six new species
- Genera of Spore-Feeding Thysanoptera from Southeast Asia (Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), with a species checklist from Peninsular Malaysia