Revision of Trichromothrips and related genera (Terebrantia : Thripidae)

The genus Trichromothrips Priesner, 1930 is distributed worldwide, although species diversification has taken place predominantly in South Asia Its ta xonomy is discussed, and the genus is redescribed. 27 species, segregated i nto 10 sections, are included. It is closely related to Laplothrips Bhatti, 1972 and also has affinities with Neocorynothrips Ram. & Marg., 1939. A ke y to the species of these three genera is provided. Cricothrips Trybom, 1912 at first sight looks strikingly similar to species of Trichromothrips in the structure and chaetotaxy of body. But closer scr utiny reveals that it is separable by the presence of mesothoracic sternopl eural sutures, longitudinally splittergum X of female, 2 pairs of campanifo rm sensilla on abdominal tergum IX, and with male having antennal segments IV to VI enlarged and with more numerous long setae, and lacking gland area s on abdominal sterna The genus Diarthrothrips Williams, 1915 is also compa red. The character of facetal pigmentation on the venter of eye, previously know n in only 5 species of the genus, is now reported for the first time in 10 species of Trichromothrips and in 5 species belonging to the genera Laploth rips, Neocolynothrips, Cricothrips, and Diarthrothrips. Facetal pigmentatio n has now been found in 2 species of Trichromothrips, but is absent in 13 s pecies; the condition in 12 species needs to be ascertained. The male genitalia in Trichromothrips are described for the first time, inc luding the hypophallus and sketches of the membranous phallus in three spec ies. The biology of the aquatic species Trichromothrips billeni (zur Strassen, 1 995), living together with Pteridothrips pteridicola (Karny, 1914), is disc ussed. The two species breed under;vater in leaf tubes produced by them on the water fern Microsorum pteropus in Java (Indonesia).