Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5792 No. 1: 10 Apr. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-10
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5792.1.4
Page range: 70-102
Abstract views: 79
PDF downloaded: 7

An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera) from India

Centre for DNA Taxonomy; Molecular Systematics Division; Zoological Survey of India; West Bengal; India; Department of Zoology; University of Calcutta; Kolkata; India
Centre for DNA Taxonomy; Molecular Systematics Division; Zoological Survey of India; West Bengal; India; Department of Zoology; University of Calcutta; Kolkata; India
Centre for DNA Taxonomy; Molecular Systematics Division; Zoological Survey of India; West Bengal; India
Centre for DNA Taxonomy; Molecular Systematics Division; Zoological Survey of India; West Bengal; India
Centre for DNA Taxonomy; Molecular Systematics Division; Zoological Survey of India; West Bengal; India
Centre for DNA Taxonomy; Molecular Systematics Division; Zoological Survey of India; West Bengal; India
Thysanoptera Identification thrips generic diversity re-description synonym

Abstract

An identification key is provided for 86 genera of subfamily Thripinae from India. Photographs are provided of each character used in this study, also, wherever possible, notes on host-plant associations and geographical distributions. Ajothrips medius Bhatti is considered a syn. nov. of A. gara Bhatti. In addition, Smeringothrips salaciae Priesner is redescribed, and the male of this species is described for the first time.

 

References

  1. Ananthakrishnan, T.N. & Sen, S. (1980) Taxonomy of Indian Thysanoptera. Zoological Survey of India (Handbook Series), No. 1, 1–234.
  2. Bhatti, J.S. (1973) A Revision of the genus Caprithrips Faure (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Oriental Insects, 7 (4), 475–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.1973.10434418
  3. Bhatti, J.S. (1975) A revision of Exothrips Priesner and two related genera. Oriental Insects, 9, 43–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.1975.10434842
  4. Bhatti, J.S. (1978) Studies in the systematics of Rhamphothrips. Oriental Insects, 12, 281–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.1978.10432090
  5. Bhatti, J.S. (1980) Revision of the genus Caprithrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), with descriptions of two new species from India and Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology, 28, 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9800161
  6. Bhatti, J.S. (1990) Catalogue of insects of the Order Terebrantia from the Indian Subregion. Zoology (Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology), 2 (3–4), 205–352. https://doi.org/10.46318/zoology.2.4.1990.205-352
  7. Bhatti, J.S. (1997) Thysanoptera. In: Fauna of Delhi. State Fauna Series. Vol 6. Zoological Survey of India, Dehra Dun, pp. 291–324.
  8. Bhatti, J.S. (2000) Revision of Trichromothrips and related genera (Terebrantia: Thripidae). Oriental Insects, 34, 1–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2000.10417252
  9. Bhatti, J.S. (2003) The genera Tenothrips and Ewartithrips (Terebrantia: Thripidae) and pigmented facets of eye in some Terebrantia. Thysanoptera, 2003, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.46318/Thrips.2.2003.1-10
  10. Bhatti, J.S. (2006) The classification of Terebrantia (Insecta) into families. Oriental Insects, 40 (1), 339–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2006.10417487
  11. Karny, H. (1927) Studies on Indian Thysanoptera. Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture in India, Entomological Series, 9 (6), 187–239. [1926]
  12. Masumoto, M. (2010) Key to genera of the subfamily Thripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) associated with Japanese plant quarantine. Research Bulletin of Plant Protection Japan, 46, 25–59.
  13. Masumoto, M. & Okajima, S. (2005) Trichromothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) of Japan and Taiwan, with descriptions of four new species and a review of the Trichromothrips group of genera. Zootaxa, 1082 (1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1082.1.1
  14. Masumoto, M. & Okajima, S. (2007) The genus Scirtothrips Shull (Insecta: Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and three related genera in Japan. Zootaxa, 1552 (1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1552.1.1
  15. Mirab-balou, M., Minaei, K. & Chen, X.-X. (2013) An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from Iran. ZooKeys, 317, 27–52. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.317.5447
  16. Mittermeier, R.A., Turner, W.R., Larsen, F.W., Brooks, T.M. & Gascon, C. (2011) Global biodiversity conservation: the critical role of hotspots. In: Biodiversity hotspots. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 3–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20992-5_1
  17. Mound, L.A. (2011) Species recognition in the genus Scolothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), predators of leaf-feeding mites. Zootaxa, 2797 (1), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2797.1.4
  18. Mound, L.A. (2018) Euphysothrips: an Old World genus of Thripidae (Thysanoptera) associated with rust fungi (Pucciniales). Zootaxa, 4532 (3), 447–450. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4532.3.10
  19. Mound, L.A. & Marullo, R. (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology International, 6, 1–488.
  20. Mound, L.A. & Morris, D.C. (2007) The insect Order Thysanoptera: Classification versus Systematics. Zootaxa, 1668 (1), 395–411. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1668.1.21
  21. Mound, L.A. & Ng, Y.F. (2009) An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera) from South East Asia. Zootaxa, 2265 (1), 27–47. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2265.1.2
  22. Mound, L.A., Azidah, A.A. & Ng, Y.F. (2012) Key to the non-fossil species of the genus Taeniothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Zootaxa, 3414 (1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3414.1.2
  23. Mound, L.A., Hoddle, M.S. & Hastings, A. (2019) Thysanoptera Californica. An identification and information system to thrips in California. Lucidcentral.org, Identic Pty Ltd, Queensland. Available from: https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/thrips_of_california_2019/ (accessed 2 March 2026)
  24. Myers, N., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A.B. & Kent, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403 (6772), 853–858. https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
  25. Palmer, J.M. (1987) Megalurothrips in the flowers of tropical legumes: a morphometric study. In: Holman, J., Pelikán, J., Dixon, A.F.G. & Weismann, L. (Eds.), Population Structure, Genetics and Taxonomy of Aphids and Thysanoptera. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague, pp. 480–495.
  26. Priesner, H. (1952) On some new genera and species of Thysanoptera from the Oriental region. Indian Journal of Entomology, 13, 183–200.
  27. Rasool, I., Alattal, Y.Z. & Aldhafer, H.M. (2023) Faunistic inventory, identification keys and zoogeographical analysis of the Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of Saudi Arabia, including two new species. Zootaxa, 5306 (2), 151–200. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5306.2.1
  28. Reyes, C.P. (1994) Thysanoptera (Hexapoda) of the Philippine Islands. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 42 (2), 107–507.
  29. ThripsWiki (2026) ThripsWiki - providing information on the World’s thrips. Available from: http://thrips.info/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 15 February 2026)
  30. Tong, X., Wang, Z. & Zhao, C. (2015) Remarkable sexually dimorphic Aroidothrips longistylus newly recorded from China (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Zootaxa, 4028 (1), 148–150. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4028.1.9
  31. Tyagi, K., Dey, S., Datta, A., Kumari, S., Mandal, S. & Kumar, V. (2025a) Checklist of Fauna of India: Arthropoda: Insecta: Thysanoptera. Version 2.0. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 36 pp.
  32. Tyagi, K. & Kumar, V. (2013) The genus Rhamphothrips in India (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with description of a new species. Zootaxa, 3745 (4), 491–495. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3745.4.7
  33. Tyagi, K. & Kumar, V. (2017) Thrips of Economic Importance in India: An identification Guide. Zoological Survey of India, 1–96.
  34. Tyagi, K., Pal, S., Sarma, M. & Kumar, V. (2025b) Identification key to the species of genus Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) from India with three new species and one new record. Zootaxa, 5566 (2), 273–302. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5566.2.3
  35. Wilson, T.H. (1975) A monograph of the subfamily Panchaetothripinae (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 23, 1–354.
  36. Xie, Y., Li, Y. & Zhang, H. (2016) The Indian genus Ajothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) newly recorded from China, with description of the male. Zootaxa, 4196 (4), 597–599. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4196.4.9
  37. zur Strassen, R. (2003) Die Terebranten Thysanopteren Europas und des Mittelmeer-Gebietes. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands, 74, 1–271.
  38. zur Strassen, R. (2004) On some Thysanoptera (Insecta) from Socotra Island. Fauna of Arabia, 20, 421–429.

How to Cite

Dey, S., Datta, A., Mandal, S., Kumari, S., Kumar, V. & Tyagi, K. (2026) An illustrated key to the genera of Thripinae (Thysanoptera) from India. Zootaxa, 5792 (1), 70–102. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5792.1.4