Trichromothrips xanthius

Nomenclatural details

Physothrips xanthius Williams, 1917: 59.
Dorcadothrips xanthius (Williams) Nakahara, 1993: 407.

Biology and distribution

Described from Trinidad from Cattleya orchids.

Distribution: Trichromothrips xanthius most likely originates from Southeast Asia but has been widely spread through the trade with orchids. According to Nakahara (1993), it has been recorded in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, England, Korea, Japan, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and the USA (California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Oregon). However, more recent distribution lists no longer include this species for Europe and Australia. In May 2025, it was recorded in southern Germany (Ulitzka, unpublished).
It is a pest on orchids such as Cattleya sp., Cypripedium sp., Laelia sp., and Odontoglossum sp.

References

Williams CB (1917) A new thrips damaging orchids in the West Indies. Bulletin of Entomological Research 8: 59–61.

Nakahara S (1993) The genus Dorcadothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Hawaii and North America with a description of a new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 101: 399–409.

Bhatti JS (2000) Revision of Trichromothrips and related genera (Terebrantia: Thripidae). Oriental Insects 34: 1–65.

Masumoto M & Okajima S (2005) Trichromothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) of Japan and Taiwan, with descriptions of four new species and a review of the Trichromothrips group of genera. Zootaxa 1082: 1–27.

Li YJ, Li ZY & Zhang HR (2019) Trichromothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from China, with descriptions of three new species and ten new records. Zootaxa 4544 (1): 79–92.

Type information

Unknown