DISCOVERY OF THE NATURAL HABITAT OF THE AQUATIC THYSANOPTERAN, ORGANOTHRIPS INDICUS (TEREBRANTIA, THRIPIDAE) IN INDIA AND NORTH-AMERICA

Organothrips indicus Bhatti passes its life cycle under water. So far the species was known from stray specimens from India, Bangladesh, and Thailand, and in warmed aquaria for tropical ornamental fishes in Ger many on an exotic aquarium plant Cryptocoryne sp., on which it was bre eding under water. O. indicus is now reported from Dehra Dun (north In dia) on Typha and from 3 counties in Florida (USA) on Typha and Eichho rnia crassipes. In India it was found living underwater in the slimy s ecretion of the widely distributed North Indian marsh plant Typha elep hantina, where adults of both sexes and immatures were found. Specimen s have also been taken in quarantine on tare from Hong Kong. The speci es can tolerate a wide range of temperature. O. indicus is likely to b e found wherever its host plants Typha and Cryptocoryne are distribute d.