One Genus and Two Species of Thripinae Newly Recorded from China (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

In this paper, Biltothrips minutus (Bhatti) and Taeniothrips tigris Bhatti are newly recorded from China and illustrations of these two species are provided.


INTRODUCTION
Mound and Palmer recognized six genus-groups of Thripinae based on several appraisal characters, including Dorcadothrips (Trichronothrips) genus-group, Frankliniella genus-group, Megalurothrips genus-group, Mycterothrips genus-group, Taeniothrips genus-group and Thrips genus-group [1]. Mound and Masumoto recognized Anaphothrips genus-group and described 33 new species of Anaphothrips genus [2]. Marullo and Mound discussed Rhamphothrips genus-group and Nexothrips genus from flowers in Clombia and Brazil [3]. Masumoto and Okajima recognized 10 genera in the Scirtothrips genus-group and discussed their relationships [4]. Now 9 genus-groups are recorded in Thripinae, representing about 50% genera except the non-fossil genera. In this paper, a member of Scirtothrips genus-group Biltothrips genus was newly recorded from China, together with an Indian species Taeniothrips tigris Bhatti. The specimens were deposited in Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Preserved slide specimens were used in this study. Collecting and slide preparation methods were followed by Zhang et al. [5]. All measurements described in this paper are in micrometers (μm). Specimens were observed under a Carl Zeiss-Axiostar plus microscope. Figures were made using a Q-Imaging CCD with an Image-Pro Plus software.

Genus Biltothrips Bhatti, 1973 new record to China
Notes: The genus of Bilothrips was erected by Bhatti with minutus as type species from Sericothrips genus in India [6]. Ng and Mound discussed the characters of the genus and described the second species B. perakensis from Malaysia [7].  Abdominal tergites II-VIII with closely spaced rows of microtrichia on lateral thirds; Tergites II-VI setal pair S1 small, wide apart, and closer to setae S2, CPS arising between S1; tergites VII-VIII with setal pair S1 long, subequal to and arising close to setae S2; posteromarginal comb on tergite VII-VIII complete with long, fine microtrichia ( Figure 6); IX without discal microtrichia and CPS absent (Figure 4 and Figure 7). Sternites II-VII with many rows of microtrichia medially; VIII with microtrichia rows absent medially; II with 2 pairs of posteromarginal setae, III-VII with 3 pairs (Figure 7). The median pair posteromarginal setae on sternite VII are situated in front of posterior margin.

Diagnosis
Female macroptera: Body brown to dark brown; the head is relatively elongate, ocellar setae pair I absent; pair III arise within the ocellar triangle. Antenna 8-segmented, segment I without dorso-apical setae, segments III & IV with long and forked sensoria. Fore wing first vein with a long gap in the setal row, usually with 2 or 3 apical setae, second vein with complete setae. Pronotum usually with 3 pairs of posteromaginal setae and 2 pairs of posteroangular setae; Mesofurca with spinula, metafurca without spinula. Metanotum with median pair of setae arising at or close to the anterior margin, CPS present. Abdominal tergites V-VIII without ctenidia; tergite VIII with posteromarginal comb long and complete; sternites without discal setae, sternite VII with S1 and S2 arising in front of the margin (except arbuti and inconsequens). Male similar to female, with a long and regular comb of microtrichia on the posterior margin of tergite VIII and sternites III-VII each with a wide transverse pore plates.

Taeniothrips tigris [7] (Figures 8-14), New record to China
Female macroptera: Body dark brown including legs, tarsi yellow brown ( Figure 8); antenna segments I-II dark brown, III and the base of segments IV & V yellow, apex of IV & V and VI-VIII brown ( Figure 9); fore wing brown including clavus, with sub-basal and media areas paler, apex of wing dark (Figure 10).
Head longer than wide, slightly elongated, with a small anteocular process and transverse striate sculptured behind eyes; dorsal facets smaller than ventral facets; ocellar setae I absent, setae III situated near the anterior margin of post ocelli ( Figure 13); Antenna 8-segmented, segment I without dorso-apical setae, segments III & IV with long and forked sensoria, III with pedicel, VIII longer than VII (Figure 9). Available online at http://abiosci.com/archive.html Abdominal tergites sculptured with irregular transverse striations ( Figure 12); tergite II with 3 lateral marginal setae; tergites VI-VIII without ctenidia; tergite VIII with a patch of microtrichia anterior to the spiracle, posteromarginal comb long and complete ( Figure 14); IX with two pairs of CPS; tergite X with median longitudinal split incomplete ( Figure 14); CPS close to posterior margin. Both tergites and sternites without craspedum; pleurotergites and sternites without discal setae; sternite II with two pairs of posteromarginal setae; sternites III-VII with three pairs of posteromarginal setae; S1 and S2 setae on sternite VII situated in front of posterior margin ( Figure 5).

Host plant
Bamboo.

COMMENTS
According to the key of non-fossil species of the Taeniothrips genus Mound et al provided, it runs to T. tigris [8].
Bhatti collected 26 males and 2 females of this species from Bamboo in India and with a male specimen as holotype; coincidently we also found 2 females from bamboo in Yunnan Province and without male specimens collected [9].