Merothrips

Genus Information

Merothrips Hood, 1912: 132. Type species Merothrips morgani Hood, by monotypy.

Amerothrips Bhatti, 1989: 13. Type species Merothrips fusciceps Hood & Williams, by monotypy. Synonym by Mound & Marullo, 1996.

Sakimurathrips Bhatti, 1989: 9. Type species Merothrips williamsi Priesner, by monotypy. Synonym by Mound & Marullo, 1996.

Tardothrips Bhatti, 1989: 13, Type species Merothrips mirus Crawford, by monotypy. Synonym by Mound & Marullo, 1996.

Biology and Distribution

The three genera listed above in synonymy were each erected for single slightly aberrant species of what is interpreted here as a single genus, Merothrips . The species of this genus all live in leaf litter or on dead branches, where they are presumed to feed on fungus. Most Merothrips species are from the Neotropics, but several have been recorded widely around the world.

References

Hood JD (1912) Descriptions of new North American Thysanoptera. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 14: 129–160.

Mound LA & O'Neill K (1974) Taxonomy of the Merothripidae, with ecological and phylogenetic considerations (Thysanoptera). Journal of Natural History 8: 481-509.

Bhatti JS (1989) The classification of Thysanoptera into families. Zoology (Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology) 2: 1–23