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Encounters between flowers and invertebrates are key events for the functioning of tropical forests. Assessing the structure of networks composed by the interactions between those partners enables a better understanding of ecosystem functioning and the effects of environmental factors over ecological processes. Gathering such data is, however, costly and time-consuming, especially in the highly diverse tropics. We aimed to provide a comprehensive repository of the available flower-invertebrate interactions information for the Atlantic Forest, a South American tropical forest domain. Data were obtained from published works and "grey literature", such as theses and dissertations, as well as self-reports by co-authors. The data set has ~18 thousand interaction records forming 482 networks, each containing from 1 to 1,061 interaction links. Each network was sampled for about 200 hours or less, with few exceptions. A total of 641 plant genera within 136 different families and 39 orders were reported, with the most abundant and rich families being Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Rubiaceae. Invertebrates interacting with these plants were all arthropods from 10 orders, 129 families and 581 genera, comprising 2,419 morphotypes (including 988 named species). Hymenoptera was the most abundant and diverse order with at least six times more records than the second-ranked order (Lepidoptera). The complete data set shows Hymenoptera interacting with all plant orders, also depicting Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera as important nodes. Among plants, Asterales and Fabales had the highest number of interactions. The best sampled environment was forest (~8,000 records), followed by pastures and crops. Savanna, grasslands and urban environments (among others) were also reported, indicating a wide range of approaches dedicated to collect flower-invertebrate data in the Atlantic Forest domain. Nevertheless, most reported data were from forest understory or lower strata, indicating a knowledge gap about flower-invertebrate interactions at the canopy. Also, access to remote regions is still a limitation, generating sampling bias across the geographical range of the Atlantic Forest. Future studies in these continuous and hard to access forested areas shall bring important new information regarding the interactions between flowers and invertebrates at the Atlantic Forest. There are no copyright restrictions on the data set. Please cite this data paper if the data are used in publications and teaching events.

Marques, Guilherme A., Cavalleri, Adriano (2021): Elaphrothrips handlirschii (Schmutz) comb. n., with notes on Thysanoptera types from Brazil described by Karl Schmutz. Zootaxa 5039 (3): 443-446, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5039.3.10

This datasheet on Baileyothrips limbatus covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Prevention/Control, Further Information.

Bell pepper [Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae)] is cultivated worldwide, and the consumption of its fruits has increased because this plant is a functional food rich in antioxidants. Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) is an important bell pepper pest worldwide. Sampling plans are essential components of integrated pest management programs. Thus, we developed a conventional sampling plan for F. schultzei in bell pepper. The work was conducted during 2 yr in commercial bell pepper fields in the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stages. Our results indicated that the sample and the ideal technique for the evaluation of F. schultzei populations in bell pepper were the apical canopy and the beating of this part of the plant in a white plastic tray, respectively. The densities of F. schultzei were adjusted to a negative binomial distribution, and they presented a common aggregation parameter (Kcommon = 0.3176), which made it possible to generate a sampling plan that could be used in bell pepper plantations at all plant growth stages. The developed sampling plan consisted of an evaluation of 61 plants per field that took 23 and 38 min to run on 1 and 5 ha fields, respectively. In the 1 and 5 ha fields, US$1.27 and US$1.92 were spent per sampling, respectively. Thus, the plan developed in this work can be incorporated into integrated management programs for F. schultzei in bell pepper crops by facilitating the accurate, representative and feasible sampling of this pest at all stages of the plant.

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.

Holopothrips is a diverse group of thrips associated to galls in the Neotropics, with a variety of host plants and wide morphological diversity. Relationships to other Neotropical groups have been proposed, but are still untested, and the monophyly of the genus remains doubtful. Here, we perform a phylogenetic analysis of Holopothrips, based on morphological characters. A total of 87 species were included in the matrix and eight analyses were carried out, but all of them failed to recover Holopothrips as a monophyletic grouping. Bremer and Bootstrap support values were low, and the topologies varied among all analyses, with uncertain internal relations for the ingroup. These results indicate that the relationships for Holopothrips species, and the proposed related genera, are more complex than previously reported; and morphological characters may not be enough to recover the evolutionary story within this group. We also discuss the influences of different character coding, continuous characters and weighting schemes in our results.

Galls are important components of the Neotropical flora. They can display a wide variety of shapes, the morphotypes, which may be of ecological and taxonomic importance. Members of Myrtaceae may host several taxa of galling insects that may provoke a wide variety of responses to the different galling stimuli. The effects of galls induced by thrips on leaves of different host plants are variable, and a comparison of the anatomical changes due to gall formation should elucidate distinct pathways that result in similar or different shapes/morphotypes. We analyzed the anatomy and histometry of a leaf-folding gall induced by a recently described thysanopteran, Holopothrips striatus (Tubulifera), on Myrcia retorta (Myrtaceae). Thysanopteran-induced galls are usually leaf-folding or rolling gall morphotypes, related to the non-redifferentiation of plant cells and tissue neoformations. In contrast, H. striatus induces the impairment of the leaf lamina dorsiventral arrangement toward areas of homogeneous mesophyll cells, alternating with areas showing a hypersensitive reaction. The main cell responses are alterations in the dimensions and elongation axes of the adaxial epidermal cells in the hypersensitive reactive areas. The cells of the homogeneous areas assume functional traits responsible for the maintenance of the host plant-galling insect system. These alterations culminate in leaf folding. The epidermal cells covering hypersensitive areas have no reactions visible in light microscopy, even if they are in direct contact with H. striatus mouthparts. The pattern of homogeneous areas and hypersensitive reactive areas on M. retorta leaves demonstrates that the galls of H. striatus are cytologically and histologically complex. Based on the current diagnostic analyses, the H. striatus leaf-folding gall morphotype fits the concept of true galls.

Prescribed patch burning is a well-known tool for grassland and savanna management that has been recognised as a suitable strategy to enhance biodiversity at landscape-level scales. Nevertheless, effective monitoring of the biota responses to fire is an essential step towards biodiversity conservation. We investigated fire effects on thrips communities (Thysanoptera) – a group of minute and diverse insect in grasslands. We performed a replicated small-scale fire experiment in South Brazilian Campos, and tested for fire effects on total abundance, species richness of different feeding guilds (e.g. leaf, flower and fungal feeders) and thrips species body size in the short (1 month) and long-term (1 year). We found positive fire effects on leaf herbivore richness in recently burned patches where the resprouted vegetation had enhanced nutritional quality, and also later on following the diversification of plant communities. The richness of fungivorous thrips was also benefited by resource heterogeneity in burned patches 1 year after fire. A positive fire effect on thrips community body size was also found at this time, possibly indicating that larger species had an advantage in dispersal to the spatially distributed burned patches across the unburned grassland matrix. Effects on total abundances were not detected. Our study emphasises the role of prescribed patch burnings in producing high quality resource-rich habitat spots for Thysanoptera communities at local scales.

We here describe Merothrips meridionalis sp.n. based on specimens originally treated by J.D. Hood as an apterous form of M. mirus. The available data on the distribution of this new species suggest that it is widespread through Brazil, living in sympatry with M. floridensis, M. mirus and M. tympanis. However, the distribution of this new species is possibly further south than other Merothripidae species recorded from South America.

Elucidating the factors determining the occurrence of florivorous organisms is an essential step for comprehending arthropod–plant interactions, especially when considering florivores that use flowers/inflorescences as microhabitats. In this study, we characterize the interaction between florivorous thrips (Thysanoptera) and Palicourea rigida (Rubiaceae), a distylous hummingbird-pollinated shrub. We investigated the relative role of different factors in determining thrips occurrence in the flower and inflorescence microhabitats. Furthermore, we experimentally examined the protective role of corolla influencing thrips exploration of floral buds. Frankliniella musaeperda (Thripidae) was the only species recorded on P. rigida, feeding on floral tissue, pollen and nectar. Thrips occurrence was not related to distyly, but rather to floral stage. Open flowers presented the highest abundance of thrips, followed by senescent flowers and then buds. The experimental opening of buds translated in increased thrips occurrence, indicating that F. musaeperda manage to explore the microhabitat offered by the floral chamber, as long as there is an opening in the corolla. In inflorescences, thrips abundance was negatively related to the number of ants visiting extrafloral nectaries. We found that the marked difference between floral morphs of distylous plants is not necessarily reflected in the abundance of florivores. Thrips seek for floral cavities, preferentially those with fresh tissue, which may confer nutrient-rich food and protection. Buds also provide this; however, the enclosed petals are an effective barrier against F. musaeperda entrance. At inflorescence scale, presence of mutualistic ants in high numbers can drive away these flower-feeding insects. Despite the abundance of thrips in the flowers, there was no evidence of any functional relationship, either of pollination for flowers or of breeding for insects. We demonstrate here that in the flower/inflorescence microhabitat, structural and biotic factors play a key role in the exploitation and occupation by insect florivores.

Morphological character states displayed by Plesiothrips Hood, a New World genus of grass-living thrips, are assessed. This assessment indicates that Plesiothrips shares more character states with genera from Southeast Asia, including the Trichromothrips genus-group, than with any New World Thripinae. Sorghothrips sakagami (Kudo) comb. n. is removed from Plesiothrips; Taeniothrips aberrans Crawford syn. n. is considered a new synonym of Plesiothrips amblycauda Hood; and an illustrated identification key is given to 16 Plesiothrips species for which females are known.

The tribe Haplothripini includes a large diversity of Thysanoptera–Phlaeothripinae, comprising more than 550 species in about 35 genera. They are characterised by having a maxillary bridge in the head, prosternal basantra well developed and fore wings with a median constriction. Members of this group are present in all geographical regions, but are particularly poorly studied in Central and South America. In this study, we describe a new genus and species, Myrciathrips variabilis gen. et. sp. nov., and a new Haplothrips species; and propose two new combinations: Karnyothrips grassoi (De Santis), and Mirothrips vespicola (De Santis). A key to the nine Haplothripini genera now recognised from Central and South America is provided, together with an updated key to Haplothrips and Mirothrips species. A total of 45 species of Haplothripini are now recognised from Central and South America, and a list of these and their distributions is given. The genera Karnyothrips, Haplothrips and Leptothrips are the ...

Thysanoptera-induced galls commonly culminate in simple folding or rolling leaf gall morphotypes. Most of these galls are induced by members of the suborder Tubulifera, with only a few species of the suborder Terebrantia being reported as gall inducers. The Terebrantia, as most of the gall inducers, manipulates the host plant cellular communication system, and induces anatomical and biochemical changes in its host plant. In an effort to keep its homeostasis, the host plant reacts to the stimuli of the galling insect and triggers chemical signaling processes. In contrast to free-living herbivores, the signaling processes involving galling herbivores and their host plants are practically unknown. Current investigation was performed into two steps: first, we set the structural profile of non-galled and galled leaves, and looked forward to find potential alterations due to gall induction by an undescribed species of Nexothrips (suborder Terebrantia) on Myrcia splendens. Once oil glands had been altered in size and number, the second step was the investigation of the chemical profile of three tissue samples: (1) non-galled leaves of a control individual, (2) non-galled leaves of galled plants, and (3) galls. This third sample was divided into two groups: (3.1) galls from which the inducing thrips were manually removed and (3.2) galls macerated with the inducing thrips inside. The chemical profile was performed by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometric detector after headspace solid-phase extraction.The galling activity of the Nexothrips sp. on Myrcia splendens culminates in mesophyll compactness interspersed to diminutive hypersensitive spots, development of air cavities, and the increase in size and number of the secretory glands. Seventy-two compounds were completely identified in the volatile profile of the three samples, from which, sesquiterpenes and aldehydes, pertaining to the “green leaf volatile” (GLVs) class, are the most abundant. The rare event of gall induction by a Terebrantia revealed discrete alterations toward leaf rolling, and indicated quantitative differences related to the plant bioactivity manipulated by the galling thrips. Also, the content of methyl salicilate has varied and has been considered a potential biomarker of plant resistance stimulated as a long-distance effect on M. splendens individuals.

The genus Holopothrips represents the main Neotropical group of thrips associated with plant galls, and several of the 36 currently described species are known to induce or invade galls of other organisms. The existence of several Holopothrips specimens in collections that do not belong to any of the already described species, allied to the absence of basic biological information for several species, such as host plants and habit, shows that the current knowledge on the genus is severely lacking. Here we start addressing these problems, by describing 24 new species: H. acrioris, H. atlanticus, H. bicolor, H. brevicapitatum, H. cardosoi, H. curiosus, H. flavisetis, H. graziae, H. inconspicuus, H. infestans, H. irregularis, H. johanseni, H. kaminskii, H. longihamus, H. longisetus, H. magnus, H. maiae, H. nigrisetis, H. nigrum, H. punctatus, H. reticulatus, H. singularis, H. spermathecus, H. varicolor. This study also includes information on galls for several species; an updated and illustrated key to species; and comments on the morphological diversity of the group. With that, we hope to lay the taxonomic and morphological bases for future studies in this group, focusing on its diversity, ecology and phylogenetic relationships.

The New World family Heterothripidae (~90 spp., four genera) comprises lower-feeding and ectoparasitic thrips. he monophyly of the group has remained untested and species-level relationships were unknown. Morphological (123 characters) and molecular (28S rDNA D2 and D3-D5, H3, and partial COI) data were compiled to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of this group. he ingroup was represented by 65 species of the four recognized Heterothripidae genera (Aulacothrips Hood, Heterothrips Hood, Lenko-thrips De Santis & Sureda, and Scutothrips Stannard). he monophyly of Heterothripidae was recovered in the total evidence and molecular data only analyses with the ectoparasitic Aulacothrips placed as the sister group of the remaining Heterothripidae. he large genus Heterothrips (>80% of the species-level diversity), which was thoroughly sampled in our analyses (56 species), was recovered as paraphyletic with respect to Scutothrips and Lenkothrips. We conclude that additional morphological and molecular data would be desirable before revising the classiication of Heterothripidae. Fil: Pereyra, Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina Fil: Cavallieri, Adriano. Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande; Brasil Fil: Szumik, Claudia Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina Fil: Weirauch, Christiane. University of California; Estados Unidos

Helionothrips errans (Williams) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is reported for the first time in the Neotropics. This thrips breeds exclusively on Orchidaceae (Asparagales) leaves and has previously been found in Australia, USA, Europe, and southwestern Asia. We observed H. errans damaging the leaves of reintroduced Cattleya intermedia Graham ex Hook. plantlets, and attacked individuals showed reduction in the height of the aerial portion and in the average number of leaves per individual. Sumario Helionothrips errans (Williams) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) e registrado pela primeira vez para os Neotropicos. A especie se alimenta exclusivamente em folhas de Orchidaceae (Asparagales) e ja foi encontrada para Australia, EUA, Europa e sudoeste asiatico. Nos observamos H. errans danificando folhas de plântulas reintroduzidas de Cattleya intermedia Graham ex Hook. e individuos atacados mostraram uma reducao na altura da porcao aerea e no numero de folhas por individuo. View this article in BioOne

The galling thrips Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmermann (Phlaeothripidae) has attained pest status by attacking the leaves of the weeping fig, Ficus benjamina. Another thrips species, Androthrips ramachandrai Karny (Phlaeothripidae), was recently reported feeding on G. uzeli immatures. Here we conducted choice tests with adults of A. ramachandrai to evaluate any preference for the immature stages of G. uzeli (egg, larva or pupa) in artificial arenas. Nochoice experiments were also conducted to measure the rate of feeding on each immature stage of the galling thrips by adults of A. ramachandrai in a period of 24 h. There was no significant preference by the predators for the different immature stages of G. uzeli, but adults consumed more eggs than larvae or pupae of the gall thrips. Here we discuss the predatory behavior of this thrips and its potential as a biological control agent against G. uzeli.

The insects known as thrips are commonly thought of as flower-living and pestiferous organisms, but we report here a novel interaction between a phlaeothripine thrips species, Mirothrips arbiter gen. et sp. nov. and three species of social paper wasps in Brazil. This thrips species breeds inside the wasp colonies, and larval and adult thrips feed on wasp eggs, which become severely damaged. Infested nests can contain up to 300 M. arbiter gen. et sp. nov. individuals. The closest relatives of M. arbiter are two presumably predaceous species: Mirothrips bicolor sp. nov., which inhabits abandoned Cecidomyiidae galls, and Mirothrips analis comb. nov., described from individuals collected in the silken bags of the caterpillars of Psychidae moths. The behaviour exhibited by M. arbiter represents one of the most evolutionarily advanced lifestyles known among Thysanoptera, and we predict that other polistine species serve as hosts for this thrips in Brazil. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109, 332–341.

This study shows that three Frankliniella (Thysanoptera) species have species-specific associations with their hosts: F. varipes–Faramea cyanea (Rubiaceae); F. musaeperda–Hancornia speciosa (Apocynaceae) and F. fulvipes–Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae). All thrips species had a marked preference for flowers in anthesis, as in this stage flowers provide food and protection from environment. Frankliniella musaeperda and F. varipes populations were female-biased while F. fulvipes was male-biased. Since many species of Frankliniella have economic importance, studies on the ecology of these species are essential, given the possibility of invasion of agricultural systems in the future.

Holopothrips striatus sp. n. is described inducing leaf-galls on Myrcia retorta (Myrtaceae) in Southern Brazil. The thrips is one of the few species of Holopothrips known to have the metanotum with striate rather than reticulate sculpture. The galls are green with brownish spots, and are characterised by a mix of folding and rolling of the leaf lamina upwards.

Ambaeolothrips gen. n. is diagnosed for three Neotropical species: the type species romanruizi Ruiz-De la Cruz et al. comb. n. from Mexico, microstriatus Hood comb. n. from Panama, and pampeanus sp. n. from southern Brazil. Variation is discussed among character states that are used in the generic classification of the family Aeolothripidae, including segmentation of the antennae and maxillary palps, sculpture of the metanotum and presence of sternal discal setae. New field observations on the biology of romanruizi indicate that this species is phytophagous in flowers and on leaves, with no evidence of predation on the larvae of other thrips.

Holopothrips molzi sp. n. (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is described from southern Brazil inducing leaf galls on Myrcia guianensis (Myrtaceae). Field observations revealed that the numbers of this thrips were highly variable within galls, and two other insect species were recorded living in these galls: Myrciathrips variabilis Cavalleri et al. (Phlaeothripidae) and an eulophid wasp (Hymenoptera). We investigated here if morphological traits of leaf and gall and abundance of the invader thrips were correlated with the gall inducer's abundance. In order to determine the feeding habit and behaviour of M. variabilis and its interactions with the gall inducer we performed observations ad libitum and attack simulation tests on both thrips species to observe their response to possible invaders. Our results showed that leaf size is not related to H. molzi abundance, and gall size is relevant only when total numbers of both thrips species are considered. Myrciathrips variabilis was observed feeding on gall tissues, and no direct antagonistic interactions between the two thrips were recorded. The results of the behavioural tests simulating attacks were remarkably different in the two thrips species, indicating different strategies when threatened or disturbed. The interaction between the two thrips species is probably a case of inquilinism.

Until now, Aulacothrips dictyotus Hood (Heterothripidae) is the only known thrips to exhibit an ectoparasitic way of life, infesting nymphs and adults of the aetalionid treehopper Aetalion reticulatum. However, recent observations in Brazilian Cerrado showed another Aulacothrips species infecting several honeydew-producing hemipteran species, mainly membracid treehoppers. Both parasitic species are usually found within a complex multitrophic system, which involves ant–hemipteran mutualism, a host plant and associated insect herbivores. In this paper, we present new data about ectoparasitism in Thysanoptera, describe Aulacothrips minor sp. nov. as well as males of A. dictyotus, and provide identification keys for adults and larvae of both species. Records of the infected Hemiptera species are given, including their host plants and associated tending-ants. Our results suggest A. dictyotus to be a host specific thrips restricted to A. reticulatum. In contrast, A. minor has a wide range of hosts, attacking 15 hemipteran species, all of them showing a gregarious and myrmecophilous habit. Differences observed in morphology, host use and life history strategies between the Aulacothrips species are also discussed.

The aim of this research was to report the occurrence of two species of thrips in watermelon crops in the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. From August to September 2011, we performed weekly sampling of thrips in a commercial watermelon production area with 10,000m2, using 20 Moericke traps. We captured a total of 431 thrips, belonging to Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thripidae) and Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin) (Phlaeothripidae). This is the first report of H. gowdeyi in watermelon crops in Brazil O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar a ocorrência de duas espécies de tripes na cultura da melancia na região do semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil. Durante os meses de agosto e setembro de 2011 foram realizadas coletas de tripes semanalmente, em uma área de produção comercial de melancia de 10.000m2, utilizando-se 20 armadilhas Moericke. Foram capturados um total de 431 tripes, pertencente às espécies Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) (Thripidae) e Haplothrips gowdeyi (Franklin) (Phlaeothripidae). Este é o primeiro relato de ocorrência destas espécies no semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte e o primeiro registro de H. gowdeyi na cultura da melancia no Brasil

Aulacothrips Hood, 1952 is a remarkable South American genus of ectoparasitic thrips which feed on gregarious ant-tended hemipterans (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). Here we describe two new species of this genus infesting membracid treehoppers in Colombia and Brazilian Amazon, and provide a key to the five Aulacothrips spp. now recognised. Aulacothrips levinotus n. sp. is unique in having pronotum with only two pairs of major setae; and Aulacothrips tenuis n. sp. has unusually long abdominal tergite IX. These findings will be helpful for understanding the species diversification in this genus, bringing a new perspective on the diversity of Aulacothrips spp. and their myrmecophilous hemipteran hosts. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht., Financial support was provided by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. LAK was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 10/51340-8) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES 3200-14-0).

Three new species are described in the South American genus of flower-feeding thrips, Lenkothrips De SantisSureda: L. mollinediae sp. n. from four species of Mollinedia (Monimiaceae) in Brazil and Ecuador; L. guaraniticus sp. n. and L. kaminskii sp. n. from Malpighiaceae in Brazil. An illustrated key to the five Lenkothrips species now recognized is provided.

Ambaeolothrips gen. n. is diagnosed for three Neotropical species: the type species romanruizi Ruiz-De la Cruz et al. comb. n. from Mexico, microstriatus Hood comb. n. from Panama, and pampeanus sp. n. from southern Brazil. Variation is discussed among character states that are used in the generic classification of the family Aeolothripidae, including segmentation of the antennae and maxillary palps, sculpture of the metanotum and presence of sternal discal setae. New field observations on the biology of romanruizi indicate that this species is phytophagous in flowers and on leaves, with no evidence of predation on the larvae of other thrips.

Holopothrips molzi sp. n. (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is described from southern Brazil inducing leaf galls on Myrcia guianensis (Myrtaceae). Field observations revealed that the numbers of this thrips were highly variable within galls, and two other insect species were recorded living in these galls: Myrciathrips variabilis Cavalleri et al. (Phlaeothripidae) and an eulophid wasp (Hymenoptera). We investigated here if morphological traits of leaf and gall and abundance of the invader thrips were correlated with the gall inducer’s abundance. In order to determine the feeding habit and behaviour of M. variabilis and its interactions with the gall inducer we performed observations ad libitum and attack simulation tests on both thrips species to observe their response to possible invaders. Our results showed that leaf size is not related to H. molzi abundance, and gall size is relevant only when total numbers of both thrips species are considered. Myrciathrips variabilis was observed feeding on gall tissues, and no direct antagonistic interactions between the two thrips were recorded. The results of the behavioural tests simulating attacks were remarkably different in the two thrips species, indicating different strategies when threatened or disturbed. The interaction between the two thrips species is probably a case of inquilinism.

Seven new species of Heterothrips are described from Brazil, and a key presented to the 20 species now known from thiscountry. Heterothrips semiflavus De Santis is synonymized with H. bicolor Hood. The new species are illustrated and notes on their biology included.

Aulacothrips amazonicus sp.n. is described from Northern Brazil, with larvae and adults ectoparasitic on ant-tended Membracidae (Hemiptera) on Solanum shrubs. This new taxon differs from its congeners by (i) body distinctively paler; (ii) sensoria on antennal segments III & IV much less convoluted; (iii) male tergite IX posterior margin straight and with several long and stout setae. The possible biological significance of interspecific differences in antennal sensoria among Aulacothrips species is discussed.

This study reports four thrips species from Brazil for the first time: the terebrantians Aptinothrips rufus (Haliday) and Echinothrips caribbeanus Hood; and the tubuliferans Androthrips ramachandrai Karny and Gynaikothrips uzeli (Zimmermann). New data about biological aspects of some of these new records are presented.

Summary Psydrothrips kewi Palmer & Mound (Thripidae) is recorded from South America for the first time. This thrips is known to attack a few Araceae species used as ornamentals in USA and in glasshouses in England. We report here P. kewi damaging leaves, stems and flowers of Zantedeschia aethiopica in Northeastern Brazil.

In Brazil, almost nothing is known about the thrips fauna associated with rice crops. This is especially true for Rio Grande do Sul State (RS), the major rice producer in Brazil, where no systematic surveys have been conducted. Thus, this work records preliminarily the species of suborder Terebrantia inhabitanting irrigated rice (RC) and three nearby habitats: the area selected for rice, before cultivation (BR), grassland (GR) and forest border (FB) in Cachoeirinha, RS (50º58'21"W; 29º55'30"S). Eight field trips were carried out between October/2004 and February/2005 to Estação Experimental do Arroz in Cachoeirinha. Thrips specimens were collected with sweeping net and transported to laboratory for identification. A total of 623 adults terebrantians were recorded, belonging to two families and 18 species. Frankliniella rodeos (55.5%), Neohydatothrips cf. paraensis (30.3%) and Frankliniella schultzei (5.6%), were the most abundant, comprising more than 90% of the individuals. FB showed the highest species richness (S=15), followed by GR (S=10), RC (S=9) and BR (S=6). FB presented a low number of individuals (14.0%), contrasting with GR (44.8%) and BR (36.7%). In general, thrips abundance in RC was low at EEA (4.5%), and few species seems to effectively use rice as a host-plant. Two species previously considered of economic importance were found, F. rodeos and F. schultzei, the latter a new record for rice in Brazil. Five species are new records to RS. No Brasil, pouco se sabe a respeito da fauna de tripes associada à cultura do arroz. Isto é especialmente válido para o Rio Grande do Sul (RS), o maior produtor de arroz do país, onde nenhum levantamento sistemático tem sido realizado. Visando suprir tal lacuna, este estudo registra preliminarmente as espécies da subordem Terebrantia habitantes do arroz irrigado (RC) e de três habitats vizinhos: área antes do plantio do arroz (BR), campo (GR) e borda de mata (FB) em Cachoeirinha, RS (50º58'21"W; 29º55'30"S). Foram realizadas oito saídas de campo entre outubro de 2004 e fevereiro de 2005 para a Estação Experimental do Arroz em Cachoeirinha. Os tripes foram coletados através de varredura e levados até o laboratório para identificação. Foram amostrados 623 Terebrantia adultos, pertencendo a duas famílias e 18 espécies. Frankliniella rodeos (55,5%), Neohydatothrips cf. paraensis (30,3%) e Frankliniella schultzei (5,6%), foram as espécies mais abundantes, perfazendo mais de 90% da amostra. FB apresentou a maior riqueza de espécies (S=15), seguida por GR (S=10), RC (S=9) e BR (S=6). FB apresentou um baixo número de indivíduos (14,0%), contrastando com GR (44,8%) e BR (36,7%). No geral, a abundância de tripes em RC na área de estudo foi baixa (4,5%), e provavelmente poucas espécies usam efetivamente o arroz como hospedeira. Foram coletadas duas espécies de importância econômica, F. rodeos and F. schultzei, sendo esta última um novo registro para o arroz no Brasil. Cinco espécies são novos registros para o RS.

A new species of leaf-feeding thrips is described, from the Atlantic Rain Forest in Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil. Holopothrips claritibialis sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus in the combination of the following characteristics: all tibiae predominantly yellow; maxillary stylets retracted near the postocular setae; metanotum with reticulation, elongated on anterior half and equiangular on posterior half; pelta with equiangular reticulation medially but weak or absent laterally and posteriorly; glandular areas present on sternites VII–VIII in males (usually three glandular areas on each sternite). This species causes deformations and rolls on leaves of Mollinedia schottiana. Some aspects of the biology and intraspecific variation of this species are discussed.

O presente estudo visa contribuir para o conhecimento da tisanopterofauna do sul do Brasil. Entre junho de 2003 e abril de 2004, foram realizadas saídas de campo para o Parque Estadual de Itapuã (50º50’-51º05’W e 30º20’-30º 27’S), Viamão, Brasil, para a coleta de ramos com e sem flores de diversas espécies vegetais. O material foi levado para laboratório, onde procedeu-se a triagem dos tisanópteros. Foi obtido um total de 23 espécies de tripes, distribuídas em 15 gêneros e duas famílias. Nove destas espécies são novos registros para o Rio Grande do Sul (*) e outras duas para o Brasil (**). As espécies amostradas foram: Aneristothrips claripennis (Moulton, 1933)*, Aurantothrips orchidearum (Bondar, 1931)*, Ceratothripoides lagoenacollus (Moulton, 1933)*, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton, 1907)*, Chaetisothrips striatus (Hood, 1935), Coremothrips pallidus Hood, 1925*, Craniothrips urichi Bagnall, 1915, Frankliniella bertelsi (De Santis, 1967), Frankliniella distinguenda Bagnall*, 1919, Frankliniella gardeniae Moulton, 1948*, Frankliniella gemina Bagnall, 1919, Frankliniella insularis (Franklin, 1908), Frankliniella oxyura Bagnall, 1919*, Frankliniella rodeos Moulton, 1933, Haplothrips fiebrigi Priesner, 1931, Hoodothrips lineatus (Hood, 1928), Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford, 1910), Neohydatothrips denigratus (De Santis, 1966)**, Neohydatothrips fasciatus (Moulton, 1938)*, Neohydatothrips flavens (Moulton, 1941), Paraleucothrips minusculus Johansen, 1983**, Smicrothrips particula Hood, 1952, Thrips australis (Bagnall, 1915). This study is a contribution to the knowledge of the thysanopterofauna of southern Brazil. From June 2003 to April 2004, seasonal field trips were conducted at the Parque Estadual de Itapuã (50º50’-51º05’W and 30º20’-30º27’S), in the county of Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, to collect shoots with/without flowers of various plant species. The material was brought to the laboratory where the thrips were sorted. A total of 23 thrips species belonging to 15 genera and two families were obtained. Nine of the species resulted as new record for Rio Grande do Sul (*), and other two also for Brazil (**). The species sampled are as follows: Aneristothrips claripennis (Moulton, 1933)*, Aurantothrips orchidearum (Bondar, 1931)*, Ceratothripoides lagoenacollus (Moulton, 1933)*, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton, 1907)*, Chaetisothrips striatus (Hood, 1935), Coremothrips pallidus Hood, 1925*, Craniothrips urichi Bagnall, 1915, Frankliniella bertelsi (De Santis, 1967), Frankliniella distinguenda Bagnall*, 1919, Frankliniella gardeniae Moulton, 1948*, Frankliniella gemina Bagnall, 1919, Frankliniella insularis (Franklin, 1908), Frankliniella oxyura Bagnall, 1919*, Frankliniella rodeos Moulton, 1933, Haplothrips fiebrigi Priesner, 1931, Hoodothrips lineatus (Hood, 1928), Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford, 1910), Neohydatothrips denigratus (De Santis, 1966)**, Neohydatothrips fasciatus (Moulton, 1938)*, Neohydatothrips flavens (Moulton, 1941), Paraleucothrips minusculus Johansen, 1983**, Smicrothrips particula Hood, 1952, Thrips australis (Bagnall, 1915).