Aulacothrips dictyotus (Heterothripidae), the first ectoparasitic thrips (Thysanoptera)

Abstract

All life stages of the heterothripid, Aulacothrips dictyotus Hood, excluding eggs but including newly hatched first instars, have been found on the abdomen of adults and nymphs of the Homopteran Aethalion reticulatum in southern Brazil. The thrips apparently lives as an ectoparasite under the wings of these bugs, spinning its pupal cocoon on the tergites. Other species of Heterothripidae live in flowers.