Layout 1 Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2012; volume 44:eJournal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; volume 46:xxxx [Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; 46:1828] [page 85] Abstract Research was conducted on the fauna of Thysanoptera in the urban green spaces of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, during 2008- 2012. The thrips were collected in different plant communities (main- ly in parks) in the city. A total of 26 species from 19 genera in three dif- ferent families were collected, among them Scolothrips latipennis Priesner, which is newly recorded for the fauna of China. New distri- bution records of seven species in China are reported. Results of the research indicate that the fauna of thrips of green areas of Hangzhou was quite abundant and diversified, and the occurrence of Selenothrips, Scirtothrips, Thrips, Frankliniella and Haplothrips species seems diverse and should be investigated further. Introduction The urban environment is a complex of habitats developed by humans from natural sites or agricultural land. Houses, villages, towns, cities, buildings, roads, and other features that characterize the urban environment have gradually and irreversibly changed the land- scape of natural and agricultural areas. As a part of this change, some habitats and their associated plant and animal communities have been eliminated, while others have been expanded and new ones created. Many of the new habitats were intentional - parks, waterways, street trees, turfgrass, food stores - but some were incidental; e.g., standing water in roadside ditches, garbage and landfill sites near residential neighborhoods, and the underground sewer and storm drain networks in urban and suburban areas. These all provide habitats for a select group of insects and other arthropods, some of which have attained pest status (Robinson, 2005). Vegetation plays a key role in urban environments by providing food, breeding sites and shelter for animals and plants, and also by modifying the microclimate. Local conditions, climate, and available resources determine the distribution of some arthropods in the urban environment, and the abundance of some species is limited. Other species are broadly adapted to the resources and harborages in and around buildings, and these are cosmopolitan in their distribution and pest status (Rudd et al., 2002). Thrips constitute the order Thysanoptera, of which there are presently over 6000 known species. The order is divided into two sub- orders, Tubulifera and Terebrantia. Tubulifera contains a single fami- ly, the Phlaeothripidae, whereas there are eight recognized families in the Terebrantia (Mound & Morris, 2007; Mirab-balou et al., 2011a). Thysanoptera comprise an order of minute insects of considerable sci- entific and economic importance. Their habits range from forest and grasslands, to gardens and crops. Members of many species are fungiv- orous, phytophagous or carnivorous, or are gall-makers or inquilines, and some are vectors of viral and bacterial diseases of plants, or polli- nators of flowers (Lewis, 1973; Mound, 1997). A large number of thrips species are considered pests, because they feed on plants of commer- cial value. Almost all species of pest thrips (>90%) are in the Terebrantia family Thripidae; i.e., Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella occiden- talis, Scirtothrips dorsalis, and Thrips palmi (Moritz et al., 2004; Mound, 2005). Only a few species of Phlaeothripidae are considered to be pests. These include Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal) and Gynaikothrips uzeli (Zimmerman) as pests of Ficus, and Haplothrips spp., which include pests of grains in Europe and central Asia (Reitz et al., 2011). Thrips in the genera Frankliniella (flower thrips) and Thrips also spread plant diseases through the transmission of viruses, such as Tospoviruses, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and the Impatiens Necrotic Spot Viruses (Lewis, 1973; Mirab-balou & Chen, 2011; Mound, 2005; Tong & Lv, 2013). In China, about 566 species of thrips have been recorded (Mirab- balou et al., 2011a), but a few of them, i.e., Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, Thrips palmi Karny, and Thrips tabaci Lindeman, are known as serious pests in this country (Reitz et al., 2011; Mirab-balou et al., 2012a, 2013). Up to the present, only a few works have been conducted on thrips species associated with the urban environment. For example, Correspondence: Xue-Xin Chen, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China. E-mail: xxchen@zju.edu.cn Key words: thrips, park vegetation, predator, Hangzhou, China. Acknowledgements: we are grateful to Prof. Zhang Wei-qiu of South China Agricultural University for his useful advice and to the anonymous review- ers for their useful comments. Received for publication: 15 July 2013. Revision received: 30 March 2014. Accepted for publication: 1 April 2014. ©Copyright M. Mirab-balou et al., 2014 Licensee PAGEPress, Italy Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; 46:1828 doi:10.4081/jear.2014.1828 This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (by-nc 3.0) which permits any noncom- mercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the orig- inal author(s) and source are credited. Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; volume 46:1828 Thrips species diversity in urban green spaces of Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province), China M. Mirab-balou,1 X.L. Tong,2 X.X. Chen3 1Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Ilam University, Iran; 2Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; 3Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Jear_2014_3_Hrev_master 16/12/14 10:38 Pagina 85 No n- co mm er cia l u se on ly Thysanoptera in the city of Lublin, Poland (Kucharczyk & Seczkowska, 1990; Czepiel, 2004) or a few common species of thrips in the globally urban environment were mentioned by Robinson (2005). In China, data concerning the species composition, ecological connections and the number of thrips in urban areas are scarce; the present research is the first attempt to document the biodiversity of thrips species in the urban green spaces of Hangzhou, China. Materials and methods Area of research Hangzhou is the largest city of Zhejiang Province, and is located in northern Zhejiang Province, eastern China, at the southern end of the Grand Canal of China, on the plain of the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The prefecture-level region of Hangzhou extends west to the border with the hilly Anhui Province, and east to the flatland near Hangzhou Bay. The city center is built around the eastern and northern sides of West Lake (Xihu), just north of the Qiantang River. Hangzhou’s climate is humid subtropical with four distinctive seasons, charac- terised by long, very hot, humid summers and short, chilly, cloudy dry winters (with occasional snow). Collection of specimens To establish the occurrence of Thysanoptera species associated with urban green spaces of Hangzhou, different sites (i.e., parks, street trees, turfgrass, etc.) (Figure 1A-D) were randomly sampled from 2008-2012. Thrips collection methods included sweep net, aspirator, and shaking plants into a white dish; all specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. Preparation of material for identification All collected material was macerated in 5% KOH and subjected to dehydration in an ethanol series before being mounted onto glass slides in Hoyer’s medium [see Mirab-balou and Chen (2010), for details on slide mounting]. All descriptions, measurements and photos were made with a Leica DM IRB microscope, and a Leica MZ APO microscope with a Leica Image 1000 system. Identification of slide-mounted specimens Slide-mounted specimens were identified using published keys (Reyes, 1994; Han, 1997; zur Strassen, 2003; Moritz et al., 2004; Masumoto, 2010). Species identity was confirmed by comparison with identified slide-mounted material held at the Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (ZJUH); the Insect Collection of Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University (SCAU); Entomological Museum, Northwest A. & F. University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China (NWAFU); and National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (IOZ). Depository for thrips specimens The specimens are deposited in the Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China (ZJUH). Results Among the 26 species listed in Table 1, some are graminicolous: Anaphothrips obscurus, Anaphothrips sudanensis and Chirothrips man- icatus; these species are also common in China; most of them are Article [page 86] [Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; 46:1828] Table 1. Thrips species associated with urban green spaces of Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province). Family Sub-family Species Thrips-associated plants Aeolothripidae - Aeolothrips fasciatus (Linnaeus)* Different plants infested with mites and thrips Thripidae Dendrothripinae Dendrothrips ornatus (Jablonowski)* Ligustrum sp., Rhododendron simsii Thripidae Panchaetothripinae Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis (Bouche)* Feeding on the leaves of a very wide range of trees and shrubs Thripidae Panchaetothripinae Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard) Viburnum odoratissimum, Rhododendron simsii Thripidae Sericothripinae Sericothrips houji (Chou & Feng) Clover Thripidae Thripinae Anaphothrips obscurus Müller Grasses Thripidae Thripinae Anaphothrips sudanensis Trybom Grasses Thripidae Thripinae Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton)* Fatsia japonica Thripidae Thripinae Chirothrips manicatus (Haliday)* Grasses Thripidae Thripinae Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) Highly polyphagous; flowers of different plants Thripidae Thripinae Lefroyothrips lefroyi (Bagnall) Camellia sinensis Thripidae Thripinae Megalurothrips distalis (Karny) Ophiopogon japonicus; on flowers of plants family Fabaceae Thripidae Thripinae Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford) Various Asteraceae Thripidae Thripinae Mycterothrips glycines (Okamoto) Glycine max, Alnus japonica Thripidae Thripinae Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood Highly polyphagous Thripidae Thripinae Scolothrips latipennis Priesner** Thuja sp. infested with mites Thripidae Thripinae Scolothrips takahashii Priesner Thuja sp. infested with mites Thripidae Thripinae Taeniothrips eucharii (Whetzel) Ophiopogon japonicus Thripidae Thripinae Thrips flavus Schrank Highly polyphagous Thripidae Thripinae Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) Highly polyphagous Thripidae Thripinae Thrips palmi Karny Highly polyphagous Thripidae Thripinae Thrips tabaci Lindeman Highly polyphagous Phlaeothripidae Phlaeothripinae Bagnalliella yuccae (Hind) Yucca flower Phlaeothripidae Phlaeothripinae Gynaikothrips ficorum (Marchal)* Ficus trees Phlaeothripidae Phlaeothripinae Haplothrips (Haplothrips) ganglbaueri Schmutz Grasses Phlaeothripidae Phlaeothripinae Haplothrips (Haplothrips) reuteri (Karny)* Flowers of various Asteraceae *Newly recorded from the Zhejiang Province; **newly recorded for fauna of China. Jear_2014_3_Hrev_master 16/12/14 10:38 Pagina 86 No n- co mm er cia l u se on ly Article [Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; 46:1828] [page 87] Figure 1. A-C) A view of some sites sampled in the urban environment of Hangzhou; D) leaves of the Gingko tree, infested by thrips; E-H) leaves damaged by Selenothrips rubrocinctus. Jear_2014_3_Hrev_master 16/12/14 10:38 Pagina 87 No n- co mm er cia l u se on ly florivorous, such as Frankliniella intonsa; a few of them, such as Selenothrips rubrocinctus and Scirtothrips dorsalis, are regarded as pests in this ecosystem, whereas Scolothrips and Aeolothrips species are predatory and feed on other small arthropods. Predatory thrips Three species, Aeolothrips fasciatus (Linnaeus), Scolothrips latipen- nis Priesner and Scolothrips takahashii Priesner, represent predators that play an important role in this ecosystem by feeding on other small arthropods. Among them, S. latipennis Priesner is a newly recorded species for China. Scolothrips latipennis Priesner (new record) Scolothrips latipennis Priesner, 1950: 54 MATERIAL EXAMINED. 6♀2♂ (in ZJUH), CHINA: Huajiachi Campus at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on Thuja sp. (Cupressaceae) (infested with tetranychid mites), 13.v.2011, Coll. M. Mirab-balou. REMARKS (Figure 2A-D). The species of Scolothrips are predators of tetranychid mites and other small arthropods; they can be easily recog- nized by the presence of six pairs of very long setae on the pronotum and fore wings with dark bands (Masumoto, 2010). Presently, five species of this genus has been recorded from China (Mirab-balou et al., 2011a); S. lattipennis Priesner is here recorded for the first time among the fauna of China. DISTRIBUTION. China (Zhejiang Province); Iran, Egypt, Crimea, Spain, Morocco, Canary Islands (zur Strassen, 2003), and Australia (Mound, 2011). Phytophagous thrips The remaining 23 species listed in Table 1 are phytophagous thrips that feed on different plant parts. The onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, is a widespread pest around the world. It is highly phytophagous and is also widely distributed on agricultural crops, fruit trees, flowers and other plants in Hangzhou. The chilli thrips or yellow tea thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, is another species distributed in China, and is a common pest in southern China, in particular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Anhui and Yunnan provinces (Han, 1997; Mirab-balou et al., 2011a). Due to S. dorsalis’ polyphagous behavior and very large host range, this species has the potential to cause sig- nificant economic damage. It has been reported as a serious pest of a diverse variety of commodities in several countries. This species is widely distributed in Hangzhou, especially on Ginkgo trees. Recently, another species of Scirtothrips, S. ginkgoe Mirab-balou & Chen Article [page 88] [Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research 2014; 46:1828] Figure 2. Scolothrips latipennis (♀): A) antenna, B) head, C) pronotum, D) fore wing. Jear_2014_3_Hrev_master 16/12/14 10:38 Pagina 88 No n- co mm er cia l u se on ly (2012b), was also recorded as a new pest in the urban environment of Hangzhou by Mirab-balou et al. (2012b). The red-banded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Figure 1F), is polyphagous (Reyes, 1994) and recently noted to be widely distributed on different plants in Hangzhou. In this investigation, we observed a high level of damage (Figure 1E-H) caused by this species on plants near West Lake (Xihu), mostly in parks. Symptoms of red-banded thrips injury to plants result from feeding by the adults and/or larvae on the leaves and pods. On leaves, the feeding punctures cause the development of chlorotic spots and premature leaf drop, while on the pods, they cause brown patches that coalesce in severe infestations to form a dark brown, corky layer of dead cells that makes the determination of pod ripeness virtually impossible. Necrotic lesions are produced in the leaves and pods by adults and larvae, and in the flowers by adults. Small brown patches of excretory droplets, typical of thrips infestation, are an obvious means of identifying damage (Figure 1E-H). Clover is cultivated in many regions in the environs of Hangzhou; con- sequently, Sericothrips houji (Chou and Feng) has become established on this plant at high populations (Mirab-balou et al., 2011b), which indi- cates a need for studies of its biology and potential control methods. The Japanese Aralia, Fatsia japonica (Thunb.) Decne. and Planch. (Araliaceae), has been cultivated as a popular ornamental flower in many regions of Hangzhou, especially around West Lake (Xihu) and most road- sides, gardens and parks. Chaetanaphothrips orchidii (Moulton) is one of the important thrips species collected from flowers of Japanese Aralia, and is established on this plant within Hangzhou’s landscape. Aside from the above thrips species, other species such as Bagnalliella yuccae (Hind) are widely distributed on Yucca flowers (Mirab-balou et al., 2011a); Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom), Lefroyothrips lefroyi (Bagnall), Haplothrips spp. and Megalurothrips distalis (Karny) are also found on different varieties of plants (mostly on flowers), and Mycterothrips glycines (Okamoto) is found on leaves of trees in Hangzhou’s urban environment. 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