Holopothrips conducans

Comments. This thrips was originally described in the genus Phrasterothrips from specimens collected in Paraguay with no host information. The two synonyms recognised for this species were described from leaf-galls in Brazil. We studied specimens labelled as “ cotypes ” from SMF and compared with specimens from several parts of Brazil. Individuals considered belonging to the same species have been studied also from Nicaragua (see Mound & Marullo 1996). Although we observed some variation in body length, shape of tip of major setae and pelta sculpture, here we consider all of them to belong to the same species. Holopothrips conducans is very similar to H. acrioris, having only small differences in sculpture, but these species induce galls in different species of Myrcia. Holopothrips infestans sp. n. also resembles H. conducans, but lacks the second pair of ep and has the pelta with a different shape. Field observations indicate that this thrips induces leaf-galls on Myrcia splendens, forming a convoluted terminal structure which is usually inhabited by dozens of individuals (Fig. 6) (Costa Lima 1935 a). Not rarely, individuals of other Holopothrips species are also collected inside M. splendens galls, including two records of H. longisetus sp. n., specimens identified as H. erianthi, and three individuals of a still undescribed species.