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This work records the presence of 13 species of tubuliferan thrips from the Maltese Islands. Eleven of these species, namely Bolothripsdentipes, B.insularis, Priesneriellamavromoustakisi, Gynaikothripsuzeli, Haplothripsacanthoscelis, H.aculeatus, H.setiger, H.tritici, Karnyothripsflavipes, Liothripsreuteri and Neoheegeriadalmatica are new records for the Maltese Islands. Two species: Gynaikothripsficorum and Karnyothripsflavipes can be described as subcosmopolitan in distribution, another three species: Haplothripsaculeatus, H.setiger and H.tritici are distributed across the Holarctic and Palaearctic regions, while a further seven: Bolothripsdentipes, B.insularis, Haplothripsacanthoscelis, Liothripsoleae, L.reuteri, Neoheegeriadalmatica and Priesneriellamavromoustakisi have a European and/or Mediterranean distribution. Gynaikothripsficorum and G.uzeli are considered as alien species. A key to the Tubulifera of the Maltese Islands as well as chorological data for these recorded species are provided in this work.

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This study was conducted to determine Thysanoptera species composition associated with olive trees, fruit injury, fluctuations in the abundance of the most phytophagous species relative to the phenological stages of the olive tree, and the temporal variations in the species Neohydatothripsamygdali in relation to environmental variations in Biskra province between 2018 and 2020. The olive orchard chosen for this study is located at the Experimental Station of the Technical Institute for the Development of Saharan Agriculture (ITDAS) in El Outaya (Biskra, a Saharan region of Algeria). Five trees were sampled each week, and thrips were collected by shaking 20 twigs (4 twigs per tree). Identification of thrips species was based on morphological characters of adults. Microscopic observation of the collected thrips specimens made it possible to report nine thrips species. Among them, four are reported for the first time in Algeria. Three taxa, namely Haplothrips tritici, Neohydatothrips amygdali, and Frankliniella occidentalis constituted the eudominant groups, representing 28.65%, 27.98%, and 23.39% of total specimens collected during the study, respectively. Thrips injury appeared as scaring and silvering of the fruit. The most abundant species was H. tritici, but N. amygdali was most common in the last two years of the survey. The influence of phenological stages of olive trees on the total number of H. tritici and F. occidentalis was significant. The highest numbers were recorded in flowering stage. The highest number of N. amygdali had two peaks: April (2020) and May (2018, 2019), as well as September (2020) and October (2018, 2019), when temperatures fluctuated between 20 °C and 30 °C. N. amygdali was totally absent during the other months (in winter and summer). During the three years of investigation, N. amygdali reproduced by thelytoky, with only females present.

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Four species of Teuchothrips are recognised as endemic to New Caledonia and distinct from the many species of this genus in Australia. Three of these species are shown to have a variable number of sense cones on antennal segment IV, in contrast to most recorded species in the Liothrips-lineage. One endemic species is removed from Teuchothrips and considered here as Neocecidothrips pacificus (Bianchi) comb.n. together with illustrations and diagnostic notes. A key is provided for the four Teuchothrips species known from New Caledonia.

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Four species of phlaeothripines are newly recorded and illustrated from New Caledonia: Adraneothrips moundi n. sp., Baenothrips cf. cuneatus Zhao Tong, Leichhardtithrips evanidus Tree Mound and Sophiothrips typicus (Ananthakrishnan). The male of L. evanidus is recorded for the first time.

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The Pacific island of New Caledonia is located about 1500km East of Australia just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. It has a rich endemic flora involving more than 5000 plant species (Endemia.nc 2021; Guillaumin 1948), but the only account of the Thysanoptera fauna apart from some new species descriptions is a check-list of 44 genera and 68 species (Bournier Mound 2000). Here we describe a new monotypic genus of Panchaetothripinae that has been collected twice in New Caledonia, in 1992 and 2012, but without any information on possible host associations. This genus shares character states with a monobasic genus from New Zealand, but more particularly with a genus of four species endemic to Australia. The Thripidae fauna of New Zealand appears to be well-studied (Mound et al. 2017), with only one or two undescribed species known in collections. The Australian Thysanoptera fauna has also been studied extensively in the past 20 years (Mound Tree 2020), and few undescribed species of Thripidae are known. In contrast, the Thysanoptera fauna of New Caledonia appears to be largely unexplored, and description here of this new genus serves to emphasize the uniqueness of this fauna. Photographs of the habitus and morphological characters were taken on the technical platform at CBGP (Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations) using a KEYENCE VHX-5000 digital microscope and a Leica DM5500, and at CSIRO, Canberra using a Leica DM2500 with Nomarski illumination.

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Heliothrips (Parthenothrips) octarcticulatus was originally described by Schmutz (1913) from Sri Lanka. Subsequently, Hood (1954) described from Taiwan a new genus and species Copidothrips formosus, and then Stannard and Mitri (1962) described a further new genus and species, Mesostenothrips kraussi, from Kiribati and Gibert Islands. Bhatti (1967, 1990), recognized that only a single genus and species was involved amongst these names, established the resultant synonymies, and recorded the species octarcticulatus from various localities between the Seychelles and five different Pacific Island groups. It has also been recorded from Northern Australia, and Thailand (ThripsWiki 2021) as well as Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean (Mound 2019). Despite these records, there is little reliable information about host plants and biology apart from Piper myristicum on Pohnpei island (Micronesia), and also damage caused to the leaves of Aglaonema and Spathoglottis at Darwin in Australia (Mound Tree 2020). In this note, we add a further interesting host record and describe the previously unknown male as well as the larvae of this species.

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The genus Dendrothripoides was originally described by Bagnall (1923) from India and is currently represented by five species (ThripsWiki 2020). Dendrothripoides innoxius (Karny) is widely distributed in the Oriental and Pacific regions; D. microchaetus Okajima is from the Philippines and Indonesian archipelago; D. nakaharai Reyes known only from the Philippines, D. poni Kudo from Thailand, and D. venustus Faure from Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] and South Africa (Faure 1941; Kudo 1977; Bournier 2000). Little is known about the biology of these species because collections often have samples with few specimens. D. innoxius is considered a minor pest on Ipomoea crops (Watson Mound 2020) but adults have been taken on the leaves of plants in numerous families (Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Musaceae, Poaceae). Dendrothripoides was classified within the Panchaetothripinae by Priesner (1957) for having a reticulate body surface. However, Ananthakrishnan (1963) indicated that the similarities are superficial, and that this genus should be classified in the Aptinothripina of the Thripinae because the pronotum lacks long setae. The genus is now not included in the Anaphothrips genus-group (Masumoto Okajima 2017), but the systematic position is unclear with a recent morphological phylogenetic analysis indicating a position near the Panchaetothripinae that may be due to superficial resemblance (Zhang et al. 2019).

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The genus Thrips comprises 296 species (ThripsWiki 2019) and is the largest of all Terebrantian genera. The only other Thysanopteran genera comparable in size are the phlaeothripids Haplothrips and Liothrips. Species of Thrips can be found in flowers and on leaves of a wide variety of plants from grasses to trees. Most of them are beneficial pollinators (Garcia-Fayos Goldarazena 2008; Eliyahu et al. 2015), while others are pests and cause significant economic damage (Mound Marullo 1996). Some of them are polyphagous and widespread, while others are rarely seen and restricted to one species of plant (Palmer 1992).

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The composition and structure of thrips populations were determined in agroecosystems of 10 crops in the Andean, Caribbean, and Orinoquia regions of Colombia. From 18,183 identified specimens, 81 species belonging to 20 genera and three families were found. The Andean region was the most diverse with 60 species (n = 11,360, Chao 1 = 70.5, H' = 1.986), followed by the Caribbean region with 42 (n = 5,960, Chao 1 = 57.6, H' = 2.256) and the Orinoquia with 24 (n = 863, Chao 1 = 31; H' = 2.301). The crop with the richest fauna was avocado (Persea americana) Mill. with 40 species (n = 4,047, Chao 1 = 55.17, H' = 1.302), followed by coffee (Coffea arabica) L. with 26 (n = 1,395, Chao 1 = 33; H' = 1.026), cassava (Manihot esculenta) Crantz. with 25 (n = 1,050, Chao 1 = 29.67, H' = 1.635), citrus (Citrus spp.) with 22 (n= 836, Chao 1 = 25.75, H' = 1.748), corn (Zea mays) L. with 22 (n = 1,647, Chao 1 = 24.5, H' = 1.365), mango (Mangifera indica) L. with 17 (n = 1,144, Chao 1 = 18.5, H' = 1.303), blackberry (Rubus glaucus) Bentham. with 11 (n = 545, Chao 1 = 16, H' = 0.886), banana (Musa spp.) with 9 species (n = 1,798, Chao 1 = 9, H' = 0.208), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) L. with 8 (n = 5,621, Chao 1 = 11, H' = 0.913), and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) Müll.Arg. with 4 species (n = 90, Chao 1 = 4, H' = 0.594). Differences were found in the distribution of the species in the altitudinal gradients and in the biogeographical regions. Frankliniella gardeniae Moulton, was the most abundant species, with the highest presence in crops, the greatest geographic and altitudinal distribution.

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The presence and distribution of Scirtothrips dorsalis was reported in Colombia in the Andean, Caribbean, and Orinoquia regions, from 0 to 1,200 meters of altitude (MASL) in the warm climate zone, with less than 2,000 mm rainfall per year and a temperature above 24°C, which corresponds to the tropical dry forest life zone (TDF). Larvae and adults of S. dorsalis were found on 13 plant species belonging to 12 genera in 12 families, of 181 plant species sampled from 129 genera in 47 families sampled. The botanical species with S. dorsalis presence included cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) L., mango (Mangifera indica) L., chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) L., bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) L., orange (Citrus sinensis) L., jasmine orange (Murraya paniculata) L., rose (Rosa sp.), and the weeds Sesbania exaltata (Mill.), Phyllanthus niruri L., Ludwigia hyssopifolia Vahl, Euphorbia hypericifolia L., Echinochloa colona L., and Amaranthus spinosus (L.). S. dorsalis prefers young leaves and floral structures, but in cotton it was also associated with squares. The low number of host plants is evident, far from the extensive lists obtained by other authors in other latitudes. S. dorsalis invaded Colombia only in recent years, and this is the first study of the presence and distribution of this thrips in the area.

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The genus Konothrips was erected by Bhatti (1990) for a single species, tuttlei, that was described from Arizona in the genus Chirothrips by zur Strassen (1967). The new genus was distinguished by the longitudinally orientated sculpture on the abdominal terga and sterna, the fore wing costa with only a single seta, and the ovipositor lacking teeth (Bhatti 1990). Subsequently, Nakahara and Foottit (2012) described in Konothrips a second species, colei, from Texas. However, those authors indicated that there is variation in these characters, with  colei intermediate in structure between tuttlei and members of Arorathrips. In the new species described below, the abdominal tergal and sternal sculpture is weakly developed, transverse medially with some reticles in the pleurotergites slightly orientated longitudinally, the ovipositor is reduced and smooth, and costal setae are present on the fore wing. This new species is described in Konothrips because antennal segment I is enlarged (more than 3 times wider than base of segment II), antennal segment II is strongly produced laterally, and the mesosternal furcal invaginations are widely separated. These characters are also shared with the species of Arorathrips, and distinguish this pair of genera from Chirothrips. However, the new species, together with tuttlei and colei, is distinguished from species placed in Arorathrips by the presence of more than 6 stout conical setae on the median area of the mesonotum, and the anterior abdominal tergites with D1 and D2 setae spine-like (conical and stout).

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Concentrations of four monoterpenes were determined in needles of Pinus radiata (D.Don) (Pinales: Pinaceae) trees that were attacked or nonattacked by Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Compounds were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean ambient temperature was obtained using climate-recording data loggers. The effect of limonene on field aggregation was also evaluated at three limonene release rates using Lindgren attractant-baited traps and trap logs. Attacked trees produced less α-pinene in March, July, and November than nonattacked trees, less ß-pinene in July and November, and less limonene from May to November. Limonene reduced the attraction of T. piniperda to attractant-baited traps and trap logs. Results were linked to better responses to high temperatures, with respect to terpene contents, by the nonattacked trees after the spring attack.

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Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria spp. have potential applications in the biocontrol of insect pests but little is known regarding their infectivity to the pine weevil Pissodes nemorensis. In this study, five isolates of Beauveria pseudobassiana and five isolates of Beauveria bassiana were tested for characteristics correlating with virulence on P. nemorensis. Isolate UAMH301 had the lowest mean lethal concentration value whereas the highest value was obtained with isolate LRC137. Growth rate was negatively correlated with virulence in B. bassiana, because isolate LRC137, the least virulent isolate, grew much more rapidly than the other B. bassiana isolates on SDYA. In contrast, its growth on a hyperosmotic medium was the slowest. Sporulation rate and conidial area were not correlated with virulence. Mycelial cell density was positively correlated with virulence in both species, and the four tested genes appear to be one-copy genes. Bbchit1 and Bbhog1, genes respectively encoding a chitinase and a protein kinase, induced relative expression levels were positively correlated with virulence in B. pseudobassiana. We discuss in terms of previous morphological, physiological and genetic parameters related to virulence in Beauveria and the importance of testing the expression of putative virulence genes in comparison with their basal transcript levels.

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There are nearly 280 species of Liothrips listed from around the world (ThripsWiki 2016), all of them presumably feeding and breeding on the leaves of higher plants, and sometimes inducing or being associated with galls (Mound 1994). Despite this, for most of these species the identity of the plant species on which they are dependent is rarely known, and a particularly high proportion of the species are based on few specimens or even single individuals (cf Table 1). As a result, the identity of many of these named species continues to be in doubt. Modern identification keys are available only to the 23 Liothrips species known from Japan (Okajima 2006), the four European species known from Iran (Minaei & Mound 2014), and 14 species from Illinois (Stannard 1968). In contrast, the keys to 16 species of Liothrips from Brazil (Moulton 1933), to more than 80 species from Indonesia (Priesner 1968), and to 50 species from India (Ananthakrishnan & Sen 1980), are of little more than archival interest, in that they are based on few specimens with little allowance for intraspecific variation. Mound & Marullo (1996) listed over 80 Liothrips species from the Americas, although some of these are now placed in Pseudophilothrips (see Mound et al. 2010). That list included two homonyms of the Indonesian species Liothrips brevitubus Karny, one from Mexico and one from California. The homonym from Mexico is here recognised as applying to a species that in 2015 caused severe damage to a crop of Jatropha curcas in Chiapas. The objectives here are to provide a valid name for this pest, to facilitate its recognition among the 13 species of Liothrips recorded from Mexico (Table I), and also to replace the homonym from California.

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The response of Culicoides biting midges, mosquitoes and other dipterans to different wavelengths was evaluated in a farm meadow in northern Spain. A total of 9449 specimens of 23 species of Culicoides, 5495 other ceratopogonids (non-biting midges), 602 culicids and 12428 other mixed dipterans were captured. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suction light traps fitted with five light emitting diodes (LEDs) (white, green, red, blue, ultraviolet) were run for 15 consecutive nights. Significantly more Culicoides were collected in those traps fitted with green, blue or ultraviolet (UV) lights than in red and white-baited LED traps for the most abundant species captured: C. punctatus (37.5%), C. cataneii (26.5%) and C. obsoletus/C. scoticus (20.4%). Similar results were obtained for non-Culicoides ceratopogonids, mosquitoes and other mixed dipterans. Wavelengths in green (570nm) resulted effective for targeting some Culicoides species, culicids and other midges. In a second trial, the effectiveness of 4-W white and UV tubes was compared to traps fitted with UV LED and a standard incandescent light bulb. More specimens of all taxa were collected with fluorescent black light (UV) traps than with the other light sources, except culicids, which were recovered in high numbers from fluorescent white light traps.

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Ambaeolothrips gen. n. is diagnosed for three Neotropical species: the type species romanruizi Ruiz-De la Cruz et al. comb. n. from Mexico, microstriatus Hood comb. n. from Panama, and pampeanus sp. n. from southern Brazil. Variation is discussed among character states that are used in the generic classification of the family Aeolothripidae, including segmentation of the antennae and maxillary palps, sculpture of the metanotum and presence of sternal discal setae. New field observations on the biology of romanruizi indicate that this species is phytophagous in flowers and on leaves, with no evidence of predation on the larvae of other thrips.

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A field survey was conducted in Ataulfo mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchards in Chiapas, Mexico, with the objective of determining the natural enemies of the Frankliniella complex species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Seven species of this genus feed and reproduce in large numbers during the mango flowering. Two representative orchards were selected: the orchard "Tres A" characterized by an intensive use of agrochemicals directed against thrips, and the orchard "La Escondida" that did not spray insecticides. During mango flowering, five inflorescences were randomly collected every 5 d in both orchards, for a total of 18 sampling dates. Results revealed the presence of 18 species of arthropods that were found predating on Frankliniella. There were 11 species in the families Aeolothripidae, Phlaeothripidae, Formicidae, Anthocoridae and Chrysopidae; and seven species of spiders in the families Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, and Uloboridae. Over 88% of predators were anthocorids, including, Paratriphleps sp. (Champion), Orius insidiosus (Say), Orius tristicolor (White), and O. perpunctatus (Reuter). The orchard that did not spray insecticides had a significantly higher number of predators suggesting a negative effect of the insecticides on the abundance of these organisms.

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During the summers of 2004-2006, harmful outbreaks of Leptoconops noei Clastrier and Coluzzi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) occurred in a small region in the southern part of Alava (Basque Country, Spain). Two types of traps were placed for monitoring L. noei: CDC traps baited with dry ice in eight different locations and sticky traps at three different heights (two, four, and six meters). A total of 1,823 adults were captured with dry ice traps and 163 specimens with sticky papers. Dry-baited collections occurred between June and August in two of the eight samplings places. Significant differences were observed concerning the vertical distribution of L. noei. The most specimens were captured at a height of two meters. A specific area near the riverside composed of sandy matter was described as the main developmental site for L. noei. This is the first record of L. noei in Spain.

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Field studies were conducted to determine the flight response of the twig beetle Pityophthorus pubescens (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to the potential aggregation pheromone component, (E)-(+)-pityol, and its racemic form, (E)-(±)-pityol, in different Pinus spp. L. (Pinales: Pinaceae) stands in the Basque Country (Northern Spain). Both (E)-(+)-pityol and (E)-(±)-pityol equally attracted more males than females, and they were all significantly different from the blank controls. Data about P. pubescens gallery systems in naturally infested P. radiata D. Don branches are also provided. The presence of one male and one female was the most common gallery habitation found in debarked twigs. Current results suggest that P. pubescens may be monogynous and females might mediate the aggregation of mating partners.

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