Print Fact SheetApterygothrips

Generic diagnosis

Micropterous, rarely macropterous, Phlaeothripinae - Haplothripini. Head longer than wide; eyes normal or slightly prolonged ventrally; postocular setae well developed, often capitate; stylets retracted to just behind eyes, about one third of head width apart, maxillary bridge present. Antennae 8-segmented, III with 1 (or 2) sense cones, IV with 2 (or 3) sense cones. Pronotum usually with 5 pairs of major setae, notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra present; mesopresternum transverse or eroded medially; metathoracic sternopleural sutures usually absent. Fore tarsus usually with small tooth. Macropterae with fore wings weakly constricted medially, without duplicated cilia. Pelta trapezoidal or hemicircular; tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of weakly developed wing-retaining setae in micropterae but these are fully developed in macropterae; tube shorter than head. Male tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternite VIII without pore plate.

Relationships

This genus is clearly a member of the Phlaeothripinae Tribe Haplothripini, indeed, some of the species listed might equally well be considered apterous members of the genus Haplothrips. The three genera, Apterygothrips, Mesandrothrips and Xylaplothrips, include a complex of species between which relationships remain uncertain (Okajima & Masumoto, 2024).

Biology

Nothing is known for certain about the biology of any member of this genus. Each seems to have been collected from some different plant, but with limited evidence of feeding. Mound & Wells (2015) reported from Norfolk Island a large population of the New Zealand species, Apterygothrips sparsus. This was breeding on Kikuyu Grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) in association with mites, on which it was suggested that these thrips might have been predatory.

Distribution

The species listed here are from the Mediterranean area, including Spain, Portugal and Israel, with three from the Canary Islands.

Nomenclature

Apterygothrips Priesner, 1933: 1. Type species Apterygothrips haloxyli Priesner 1933, by monotypy.

The 39 species listed in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2023) come from many different parts of the world, and they are probably not all closely related to each other.

Euro-Mediterranean species
Apterygothrips canarius (Priesner, 1933)
Apterygothrips gilvipes zur Strassen, 1981
Apterygothrips hispanicus (Bagnall, 1916)
Apterygothrips longiceps zur Strassen, 1966
Apterygothrips piceatus zur Strassen, 1966
Apterygothrips pinicolus Pelikan & Schliephake, 1994
Apterygothrips priesneri zur Strassen, 1966
Apterygothrips wollastoni zur Strassen, 1977

References

Mound LA & Wells A (2015) Endemics and adventives: Thysanoptera (Insecta) Biodiversity of Norfolk, a tiny Pacific Island. Zootaxa 3964 (2): 183–210.

Okajima S & Masumoto M (2024) Review of the genus Karnyothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) from Asia between India and Japan. Zootaxa XXXX: XX-XX.