Fauna and species diversity of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) on Montpellier maple trees Acer monspessulanum in Zagros forests of Ilam province, Iran

Montpellier maple Acer monspessulanum L. is one of the trees in Zagros forests (Iran) which is host to several economically important thrips species. The purpose of this study was to find the fauna of thrips on Montpellier maple trees in Ilam province, western Iran, during 2015-2016. The abundance and species diversity of thrips were examined twice a month via standard sweep net and shaking flowers and leaves to white plastic tray at two location sites including Gachan and Manesht Mountains. Out of the 7062 thrips specimens that were collected, 16 thrips species were identified, which belonged to 10 genera and four families. The estimated domination coefficient showed that in both sites Taeniothrips inconsequens Uzel was eudominant and onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman was dominant species. There were 5 and 4 species classified as subdominant for Gachan and Manasht, respectively. Four predatory thrips were found on Montpellier maple trees including Aeolothrips intermedius Bagnall, Scolothrips longicornis Priesner, Haplothrips flavitibia Williams and H. globiceps. Of these, A. intermedius was the most abundant predator in both collection sites, whereas others showed a low population density. According to diversity index calculations, the Shannon diversity, Pielou’s evenness and Margalef’s species richness indices were 1.83, 0.68 and 1.67 for Gachan, and 1.48, 0.62 and 1.26 for Manesht, respectively.

Fauna and species diversity of thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) on Montpellier maple trees Acer monspessulanum in Zagros forests of Ilam province, Iran Keywords:

Thrips , diversity , population