Trachynotothrips vyaghravahini

Trachynotothrips vyaghravahini Latest News

Researchers recently discovered a new species of insect named Trachynotothrips vyaghravahini in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats of Karnataka.

About Trachynotothrips vyaghravahini

• It is a new species of insect belonging to the group known as thrips. 
• It was discovered inside the bright flowers of a tropical plant in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats of Karnataka.
• It was named vyaghravahini, which is derived from the ancient Sanskrit words ‘vyaghra’ (meaning tiger) and ‘vahini’ (meaning flowing river).  
• This name is a direct nod to the specific location where the insect was found, Pilikula, which historically was known as a river where wild tigers frequently came to drink water. 
• Unlike similar species, the newly discovered species has a uniformly pale midsection without any brown stripes and entirely pale hind legs. 
• Furthermore, it lacks the distinct spine-like hairs on the sides of its abdomen and features a different arrangement of microscopic bristles on its lower body compared to its insect cousins. 

‹ ›

What are Thrips?

• Thrips are minute, slender-bodied insects less than 1/16 inch to about 3/16 inch in length.  
• Adults that range in color from yellow to black and have four long, narrow, fringed wings. 
• The young nymphs are smaller, wingless, and range in color from yellow to white. 
• Many thrips are plant feeders attacking flowers, leaves, fruit, twigs, or buds.   
• Thrips are rarely seen because of their small size. 
• The insects feed by puncturing the surface of the plant parts with their single large mandible and slurping the plant juices that seep from the wound.  
• Flowers or leaves may develop silvery streaks. Heavily infested leaves appear brownish or silvery, and growing points may become contorted. 
• Some species of thrips leave sooty spots of black fecal matter on the leaves.
• Thrips also vector plant diseases. 
• A few species are beneficial predators of mites and small insects including other thrips, and some feed on fungal spores.

News: RM