Philippine Journal of Science
150 (S1): 181-213, Special Issue on Biodiversity
ISSN 0031 – 7683
Date Received: 22 Jul 2020

Inventory of Philippine Thrips (Insecta: Order Thysanoptera)

Cecilia P. Reyes*

College of Agriculture, Cagayan State University
Tuguegarao 3500 Philippines

*Corresponding authors: reyescecilia.p@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

All known records of Philippines thrips published from 1905–2019 were reviewed and consolidated. Species endemism and species with biological control potential against arthropod pests of plants were noted. Two hundred and thirteen (213) species of Thysanoptera in 98 genera under two suborders – Terebrantia and Tubulifera – were recorded in the country. Terebrantians under the family Aeolothripidae are represented by two genera and two species while Thripidae is represented by 43 genera and 95 species – with three species under subfamily Dendrothripinae, 16 species under Panchaetothripinae, two species under Sericothripinae, and 74 species under Thripinae. Tubuliferans under the family Phlaeothripidae are represented by 53 genera and 116 species, with 21 species under subfamily Idolothripinae and 95 species under Phlaeothripinae. Aeolothripids are 100% endemic while thripids and phlaeothripids are 20% and 50% endemic, respectively. Altogether, there are 79 endemic species in the Philippines. Based on the literature, the following species are potential predators of mites, scale insects, plant-feeding thrips, and coffee berry borer: Franklinothrips rarosae Reyes (Aeolothripidae), Karnyothrips flavipes (Jones) (Phlaeothripidae), K. melaleucus (Bagnall) (Phlaeothripidae), and Podothrips lucasseni (Kruger) (Phlaeothripidae). Beneficial and endemic species of thrips are recommended for conservation.