Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body yellow, tergites II–VI with brown area laterally; antennal segments I–II white, III–VI yellow with apex brown, VII brown; fore wings pale with faint brown shading sub-basally and medially. Antennae 7-segmented, III–IV with forked sensorium. Head wider than long; 3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III just outside ocellar triangle; 3 pairs of postocular setae. Pronotum posterior half with 2 pairs of discal setae medially, 5 pairs of equally short posteromarginal setae. Mesonotal S1 setae arise in line with S2 setae. Metanotum with weakly transverse sculpture, median setae not at anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent. Prosternal ferna complete medially; basantra with or without one pair of setae; mesofurca without spinula, metafurca with spinula. Fore wing first vein with 3 setae on distal half; second vein with 3–4 setae; cilia wavy. Tergites I–VIII with median pair of setae close together; posterolateral tergal margins with fringe of microtrichia, complete medially on VIII; tergites II–VIII with 6–10 rows of discal microtrichia on lateral thirds; IX with many microtrichia on posterior half, X with no longitudinal split. Sternites II–VI with short microtrichia on posterior margin between bases of setae.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; sternites without pore plates.

Related and similar species

The genus Anascirtothrips currently includes four species, all from Asia and apparently all associated with the leaves of Ficus trees. These species ressemble those of the worldwide genusScirtothrips, but have 7-segmented antennae, and the mesonotal two pairs of setae arise in almost a straight transverse line (Masumoto & Okajima, 2007). A. arorai differs from A. arafura in lacking a spinula on the mesothoracic furca, and in tergite VII lacking a complete comb of microtrichia on the posterior margin.

Distribution data

General distribution

Widespread in India, introduced to southern Florida and northern Australia.

Australian distribution

Northern Australia.

Biological data

Life history

Feeding and breeding on leaves.

Host plants

Ficus spp (Moraceae), particularly Ficus benjamina cultivars, ?also F. microcarpa.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Anascirtothrips arorai Bhatti

Original name and synonyms

• Anascirtothrips arorai Bhatti, 1961: 26
• Anascirtothrips ficus Bhatti, 1967: 11

References

Mound LA & Wang C-L 2000. The genus Anascirtothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), from leaves of Ficus trees in India, Taiwan and Australia. Chinese Journal of Entomology 20: 327-333.