South American Haplothrips Species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), with a new species of biological control interest to Australia against weedy Heliotropium amplexicaule (Boraginaceae)

Abstract

Haplothrips heliotropica sp. nov. is described from Argentina causing severe damage to the leaves of Heliotropium amplexicaule, a South American plant that is now a serious weed of pastures in Australia. Observations are presented on host specificity, seasonal population changes and overwintering of this thrips. The genus Haplothrips includes more than 230 species worldwide, mostly feeding on flowers. In contrast, adults and larvae of H. heliotropica feed exclusively on green tissues. This is only the third South American species of Haplothrips, the two other species being H. trellesi and H. fiebrigi. Morphological traits are given for distinguishing these three species, and also for Haplothrips heliotropii from Egypt and Yemen.