A REVIEW OF THE SPECIES THRIPS LINNAEUS, 1758 (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) FROM AFRICA, EUROPE, AND THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Authors: Nickle, David

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2005
Publication Date: 3/28/2006
Citation: Nickle, D.A. 2006. A review of the species Thrips Linnaeus, 1758 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 108:443-466.

Interpretive Summary: Thrips are minute insects that commonly occur on agricultural crops, grains, and ornamental flowers. Many species are agricultural and ornamental pests, while other species have been implicated as vectors of several plant viruses. They are regularly intercepted at port quarantine facilities at the various ports of entry into the United States. Because of their small size and potential for causing agricultural damage if they gain access into the United States, great care must be given to identifying these insects to species level as they are intercepted. This paper provides a review of all of the species of the genus Thrips from Europe, Africa, and the Mediterranean Region. It includes distributions, host plants, and an assessment of pest potential and likelihood of being intercepted at U.S. ports-of-entry.

Technical Abstract: A total of 130 species of thrips occurring in Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean region were intercepted by U. S. agricultural quarantine officers in shipments of plants and cut flowers at the various ports of entry in the United States from 1983 to 1999. Of the 24 most commonly intercepted species encountered by port identifiers during this period, 10 were species of the genus Thrips Linnaeus (T. tabaci Lindeman, T. fuscipennis Haliday, T. major Uzel, T. vulgatissimus (Haliday), T. meridionalis Priesner, T. flavus Schrank, T. atratus (Haliday), T. simplex (Morison ), T. nigropilosus Uzel, and T. australis (Bagnall)). This paper provides information on all 100 species of Thrips from Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean region necessary for completion of Part III of a guide to the identification of thrips coming into the U. S. A. from those regions; it is designed primarily to aid the identification capabilities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHIS) identifiers at U.S. ports of entry, but those interested in thrips in general will also benefit from this information.