Thripinae

Stephens, 1829

Genus Guides

Thripinae is a of thrips (order Thysanoptera, Thripidae) comprising approximately 1,400 across 150 . The subfamily contains the majority of economically significant pest thrips, including species that damage crops through direct feeding and virus transmission. A 2012 molecular found Thripinae to be , indicating that taxonomic revisions are needed to clarify relationships within the group. Members are distributed worldwide, with particularly high diversity in tropical and subtropical regions.

Scirtothrips by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.

Thrips by (c) carnifex, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by carnifex. Used under a CC-BY license.

Scolothrips by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Thripinae: /ˈθraɪpaɪniː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Members of Thripinae can be distinguished from other Thripidae using morphological characters detailed in regional identification keys. The Anaphothrips -group within Thripinae is characterized by the absence of long setae on the pronotum. Male Thripinae possess pore plates (glandular areas or areae porosae) on abdominal sternites, with variation in their form and distribution sometimes diagnostic at the genus level. Some genera exhibit distinctive , such as Nandithrips which lacks ocellar setae pairs I and II.

Images

Habitat

Agricultural and horticultural crops, ornamental flowers, and vegetable crops; also found in adjacent native and weedy vegetation. occupy lowland and highland areas, with many associated with specific plant . Some show specialized host associations, such as Pandanothrips species inhabiting Pandanus plants.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with centers of diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Documented from Malaysia, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, Japan, and North America. Many have expanded their ranges through international trade in greenhouse plants and agricultural products.

Seasonality

Activity patterns vary by and region; in temperate areas, some pest species are active year-round in greenhouses while showing seasonal peaks in field . In South Australia, of pest thrips species was found to vary significantly by season.

Diet

Phytophagous; feeding on plant foliage, flowers, and fruits. Many are , feeding across multiple plant , though some show narrower ranges. Documented host plant families include Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Orchidaceae, Rosaceae, Solanaceae, and many others.

Host Associations

Acanthaceae - Strobilanthes crispus, Pseuderanthemum carruthersii
Apocynaceae - Allamanda oenotheraefolia, Plumeria rubra
Orchidaceae - Arundina graminifolia, Dendrobium spp., Cattelya spp., Phalaenopsis spp., Vanda spp., Oncidium sp., Aracnis sp.
Fabaceae - Vigna sinensis, Erythrina fusca, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Cassia fistula, Pithecellobium jiringa, Peliophorum pterocarpum, Canavalia rosea
Asteraceae - Chrysanthemum morifolium, Chrysanthemum indicum, Cosmos spp., Tagetes spp., Sphagneticola trilobata, Aster dumosus, Dahlia sp., Gerbera sp., Tanacetum parthenium
Solanaceae - Capsicum annuum, Solanum torvum, Solanum melongena
Rosaceae - Rosa spp., Fragaria ananassa, Prunus persica, Rosa alba
Myrtaceae - Psidium guajava
Anacardiaceae - Mangifera spp.
Euphorbiaceae - Jatropha integerrima
Lamiaceae - Orthosiphon aristatus, Salvia farinacea
Rubiaceae - Ixora sp., Coffea spp. (for some Craspedothrips )
Verbenaceae - Stachytarpheta mutabilis, Clerodendrum paniculatum, camara, Verbena sp.
Alliaceae - Agapanthus campanulatus
Balsaminaceae - Impatiens spp.
Caryophyllaceae - Gypsophila sp.
Iridaceae - Gladiolus sp.
Plantaginaceae - Antirrhinum sp.
Nyctaginaceae - Bougainvillea sp.
Plumbaginaceae - Plumbago auriculata
Malpighiaceae - Tristellateia australasiae
Moraceae - Artocarpus champeden
Passifloraceae - Turnera ulmifolia
Heliconiaceae - Heliconia sp.
Amaryllidaceae - Hymenocallis speciosa
Araceae - Zantedeschia aethiopica
Arecaceae - Areca catechu
Pandanaceae - Pandanus (specialized Pandanothrips)
Urticaceae - Pouzolzia petandra subsp. wightii (for Nandithrips pouzolziae)

Behavior

Feeding activities cause fruit scarring and flower discolouration. Many occur in large . Several species are of plant tospoviruses including Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV). Crops infested by thrips may be banned from importation into countries with strict biological procedures.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pests causing direct damage to crops through feeding and indirect damage through virus transmission. Reduction of crop yields occurs through foliage and flower dropping. Some may interact with native vegetation, though Australian studies suggest native plants generally have low likelihood of hosting pest thrips species.

Human Relevance

Major economic significance as agricultural and horticultural pests. Notable pest include Scirtothrips dorsalis (chili thrips), (), Thrips tabaci (onion thrips), Thrips hawaiiensis, and Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips). The western flower thrips has expanded from western North America to Europe and Asia through trade in greenhouse plants. Several species are . Virus transmission by thrips creates additional economic impact beyond direct feeding damage.

More Details

Taxonomic Status

A 2012 molecular found Thripinae to be ; further work is needed to clarify relationships within the group.

Pore Plate Variation

Males of some exhibit distinctive pore plate distributions, such as the discontinuous pattern in Nandithrips with a single circular or oval pore plate medially on abdominal sternites II and V–VII.