The Palaeotropical genus Craspedothrips, with new species from Africa and Malaysia (Thysanoptera, Thripinae)

Abstract

An identification key is provided to 10 species recognised in the genus Craspedothrips, including three new species, C. malaysiae from Malaysia, and C. nyanzai, C. poecilus, and C. reticulatus from East Africa. Plesiopsothrips zurstrasseni Bournier et al. is considered a new synonym of C. hargreavesi, and Plesiopsothrips carvalhoi Bournier a new synonym of C. xanthocerus. One oriental species, C. antennalis Karny, is newly recorded from Australia. Little is known of the biology of most species, but C. antennatus and C. xanthocerus are both recorded in association with Hemileia vastatrix on the leaves of Coffea species (Rubiaceae) in Africa, C. minor is recorded from flowers of Cassia (Fabaceae), and C. antennalis is recorded from plants of the family Apocynaceae.