New generic synonyms in the Palaeotropical genus Urothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae) with one new species from Seychelles

Abstract

Urothrips kobroi sp. n. is described from Seychelles, and reasons are given for considering Biconothrips Stannard and Coxothrips Bournier as new synonyms of Urothrips Bagnall. This genus now includes nine species, distributed between Africa and Australia, and a key to these species is provided.

Review of fungus-feeding urothripine species from China, with descriptions of two new species (Thysanoptera:Phlaeothripidae)

“…The genus Stephanothrips differs from Baenothrips, Bradythrips and Urothrips on very minor characteristics (Mound 1972;Okajima 2006;Ulitzka & Mound 2014). Recently, Ulitzka and Mound (2014) produced a new diagnosis of the genus Urothrips.…”

“…Recently, Ulitzka and Mound (2014) produced a new diagnosis of the genus Urothrips. Although they mentioned "basantra absent" in Urothrips, it actually could be interpreted as "basantra present but reduced to small lateral plates" (personal communication with Laurence Mound).…”

“…Urothrips Bagnall Urothrips Bagnall, 1909: 126. Type species Urothrips paradoxus Bagnall, 1909, by monotypy. With the new species described below, this genus now includes 10 species, all from the Old World tropics (Ulitzka & Mound 2014).…”

“…Subsequently, the complicated patterns of variation amongst urothripines were discussed by Mound (1972), who treated four genera, Verrucothrips, Ramachandraiella, Transithrips and Bournieria, as junior synonyms of Baenothrips. Subsequently, Bhatti (1998) synonymised Ananthakrishnaniella with Coxothrips, and more recently Ulitzka and Mound (2014) considered Coxothrips and Biconothrips as synonyms of Urothrips. To date, urothripines include 10 genera, four of which are monobasic (ThripsWiki 2017).…”

A new species of Baenothrips Crawford from China (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae)

“…These thrips are considered to be fungusfeeding, with most living in leaf litter, grass tussocks or dead twigs (Stannard 1970;Mound 1972;Okajima 1994). However, some species, such as B. moundi Stannard of Australia, can crawl up above soil level to grass stems, and are likely to be winddispersed (Mound 1972;Ulitzka and Mound 2014). The new species described below has similar dispersive behaviour, and can be collected not only in leaf litter but also on fresh leaves or stems of grass, fern, and dicotyledons.…”