Distinguishing features

This orchid-living species has not been studied by the present authors.

Related species

The genus Trichromothrips, together with its synonym Dorcadothrips, currently includes 38 species (Masumoto & Okajima, 2005; Li et al., 2019). These species apparently originated in the area between Southeast Asia and Australia, but several of them are now more widespread around the world (Bhatti, 2000). T. xanthius is reported to be unique within this genus in having coarse-grained dark areas on either side of abdominal sternites V & VI (Nakahara, 1993).

Biological data

Recorded from Cattleya sp., Cypripedium sp., Laelia sp., and Odontoglossum sp. [Orchidaceae].

Distribution data

Presumably originally from Southeast Asia, but taken in greenhouses widely around the world (Nakahara, 1993: 408).

Family name

THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE

Species name

Trichromothrips xanthius (Williams)

Original name and synonyms

Taeniothrips xanthius Williams, 1917: 59
Dorcadothrips xanthius (Williams); Nakahara, 1993: 407.

References

Bhatti JS (2000) Revision of Trichromothrips and related genera (Terebrantia: Thripidae). Oriental Insects 34: 1–65.

Li YJ, Li ZY & Zhang HR (2019) Trichromothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from China, with descriptions of three new species and ten new records. Zootaxa 4544 (1): 079–092.

Nakahara S (1993) The genus Dorcadothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Hawaii and North America with a description of a new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 101: 399–409.