Merothrips

Genus Information

Merothrips Hood, 1914: 132. Type species Merothrips morgani Hood, by monotypy.

Amerothrips Bhatti, 1989: 13. Type species Merothrips fusciceps Hood, by monotypy.

Sakimurathrips Bhatti, 1989: 9. Type species Merothrips williamsi Priesner, by monotypy.

Tardothrips Bhatti, 1989: 13, Type species Merothrips mirus Crawford, by monotypy.

Biology and Distribution

The three genera listed above in synonymy with Merothrips were each erected for single slightly aberrant species. The species of Merothrips all live in leaf litter or on dead branches, where they are presumed to feed on fungus. Most of them are from the Neotropics, but several species 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