Distinguishing features

Both sexes fully winged or micropterous. Body, legs and antennae largely brown, tarsi yellow, also apex of tibiae and base of mid and hind femora; antennal segments I–II brown, III almost yellow; fore wing pale with posterior margin weakly shaded. Antennae 9-segmented, VII–IX forming a unit, segments III & IV with transverse sensorium at apex. Head longer than wide, with less than 5 pairs of small ante-ocellar setae, inter-ocellar setae prominent and arise on anterior margin of ocellar triangle; vertex sculptured. Pronotum with 1 pair of long posteroangular setae, 2 (or 3) pairs of posteromarginals. Mesonotum without microtrichia on sculpture lines. Metanotum with elongate reticulations in macropterae, but irregular sculpture in micropterae, without microtrichia, median setae near posterior margin. Fore tarsus with strongly recurved hamus. Fore wing with cross veins visible. Abdominal tergites with transverse reticulation, trichobothria on X about as large as major setal bases. Sternites III–VI with 2 or 3 pairs of posteromarginal setae, lateral pairs arise far forward on disc; sternite VII with 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae, 2 pairs of supernumerary setae, but without discal setae laterally.
Male tergite I with paired longitudinal ridges scarcely one third as long as tergite.

Related species

Apart from this species that is widespread in Europe, there is a second Rhipidothrips species in western Europe between Finland and Spain, plus three further species from southeastern Europe, and a sixth species from the Mediterranean and Canary Islands (zur Strassen, 2003).

Biological data

Breeding on grasses, often in damp places, and presumably predatory on other thrips (Bailey, 1954).

Distribution data

Widespread across western Europe to Egypt, also Western Australia and California.

Family name

AEOLOTHRIPIDAE

Species name

Rhipidothrips brunneus Williams

Original name and synonyms

Rhipidothrips brunneus Williams, 1913: 216
Rhipidothrips cahirensis Priesner, 1932: 45

References

Bailey SF (1954) A review of the genus Rhipidothrips Uzel (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 30: 209–220.

zur Strassen R (2003) Die terebranten Thysanopteren Europas und des Mittelmeer-Gebietes. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 74: 1–271.

Thysanoptera Californica