Neotropical Entomology (2003) 32, 437-442

Laurence A. Mound and Miguel C. Zapater (2003)
South American Haplothrips species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), with a new species of biological control interest to Australia against weedy Heliotropium amplexicaule (Boraginaceae)
Neotropical Entomology 32 (3), 437-442
Abstract: A new species, Haplothrips heliotropica, is described from Argentina causing severe damage to the leaves of Heliotropium amplexicaule (Boraginaceae), a South American plant that is now a serious weed of pastures in Australia. Observations are presented on the host specificity, seasonal population changes and overwintering of this thrips. The genus Haplothrips includes more than 230 species worldwide, mostly feeding in flowers. In contrast, adults and larvae of H. heliotropica feed exclusively on green tissues. This is only the third South American species of Haplothrips. Character states are given for distinguishing these three species, and also for Haplothrips heliotropii Priesner from Egypt and Yemen.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Laurence A. Mound

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
identification/taxonomy
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Heliotropium amplexicaule (weed)		Argentina
Haplothrips heliotropica (predator)	Heliotropium amplexicaule (weed)		Argentina