Selenothrips rubrocinctus

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Both sexes fully winged. Body blackish brown, tarsi and apices of tibiae yellow; antennal segments III–V yellow at least in basal half; fore wing uniformly dark with black setae. Head with transverse reticulation, cheeks sharply constricted to basal neck; ocellar setae on anterior margins of triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV constricted into neck at base and apex, sensorium long and forked; VIII longer than VII. Pronotum with transverse lines of sculpture, no prominent poster-angular setae, but 1 pair of long anteromarginal setae. Mesonotum with transverse reticulation, lateral setae minute. Metanotum with median triangle enclosing transverse reticulation, with 1 pair of setae on anterior half. Tarsi 1-segmented. Metathoracic furca elongate and forked. Fore wing with long costal setae, two irregular rows of veinal setae, postero-marginal cilia wavy. Abdominal tergites with lateral thirds reticulate; IV–VIII with median setae longer than distance between their bases; VIII with complete comb of long microtrichia; tergite X without longitudinal division. Sternites with three pairs of long marginal setae.

Male sternites III–VII with small oval pore plate on antecostal ridge.

Related and similar species

Not yet recorded in California, but nevertheless a potential immigrant, this is the only species recognized in the genus Selenothrips. An African species, Xestothrips glabratus (Priesner), has been associated with this genus (Wilson, 1957), but lacks sculpture on the head and pronotum.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard)

Original name and synonyms

• Physopus rubrocinctus Giard, 1901: 263
• Heliothrips (Selenothrips) decolor Karny, 1911: 179
• Heliothrips (Selenothrips) mendex Schmutz, 1913: 994
• Brachyurothrips indicus Bagnall, 1926: 98

Family placement

Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae

Common names

Red banded cacao thrips

Biological data

Life history

Larvae and adults feed on the leaves of many plants, and pupae also can be found on leaves.

Host plants

On the mature leaves of Theobroma cacao (Sterculiaceae), Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Persea spp.(Lauraceae), and many other trees, but not usually on young leaves.

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage

Leaf damage to tree crops, sometimes in association with water stress (Fennah, 1965).

Distribution data

Area of origin

Possibly Africa.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical and subtropical countries.