Almost all of the thrips species that are considered pests are members of a single subfamily of Thripidae, the Thripinae, a group that represents less than 30% of the species in the insect Order Thysanoptera. Three of the five major Families of Thysanoptera (Aeolothripidae, Heterothripidae, Melanthripidae) are not known to include any pest species. The Phlaeothripidae that includes more than 50% of the 6300 thrips species listed includes very few that are considered to be pests. Within the Thripidae, the members of the three smaller subfamilies, Panchaetothripinae, Dendrothripinae and Sericothripinae, include remarkably few species that result in serious crop losses. It is only in the subfamily Thripinae, and particularly among species of the Frankliniella genus-group and the Thrips genus-group that the major thrips species are found, including all but one of the vectors of Orthotospovirus infections. It is argued that the concept of pest is a socio-economic problem, with the pest status of any particular species being dependent on geographical area, cultivation practices, and market expectations as much as the intrinsic biology of any thrips species.

Hexapods, commonly known as insects, are a neglected taxonomic group in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, with unanswered questions about their species richness and the ecological processes in which they are involved (e.g., colonization, introduction, establishment, and extinction). Herein, we provide an updated Hexapod checklist with current nomenclatural combinations. The entomofauna of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago is currently composed of 453 species in 21 orders. The orders, and their respective number of species, are: Blattaria (9), Coleoptera (118), Collembola (29), Dermaptera (3), Diplura (1), Diptera (134), Embioptera (1), Hemiptera (29), Hymenoptera (59), Isoptera (2), Lepidoptera (25), Mantodea (1), Neuroptera (3), Odonata (5), Orthoptera (11), Phasmatodea (1), Phthiraptera (6), Psocoptera (3), Siphonaptera (1), Thysanoptera (10), and Zygentoma (2). The archipelago has 263 new taxon records (family + genera + species). Thirty-eight species (3.39%) were described from local specimens and most of them are likely endemic species. This study more than doubles our knowledge (from the previous 190 records) of the entomofauna in this large Brazilian archipelago. This study also provides a baseline for studies on its conservation status and for implementing future environmental management programs.

The subfamily Panchaetothripinae has been consistently recovered as a monophyletic group within Thripidae, comprising 144 species in 43 genera. Usually associated with plant leaves, 21 species from 12 genera have previously been recorded in Brazil, several being pests of a wide range of cultivated plants. Here we record four species as new to Brazil, Bradinothrips williamsi, Caliothrips nanus, C. punctipennis and Parthenothrips dracaenae. Moreover, Caliothrips cangaceiro sp. n. is described, Hoodothripiella ignacio is considered a new synonym of Elixothrips brevisetis, and Caliothrips marginipennis is a new synonym of C. punctipennis. Furthermore, the previously unknown males of B. williamsi and Hoodothrips constrictus are described. Caliothrips fasciatus is withdrawn from the Brazilian Thysanoptera list of species. Illustrated keys to adults of species recorded in Brazil are provided, together with notes on biology and brief descriptions. Parthenothrips kobusi Deventer, known only from Java, is not a member of the Panchaetothripinae and is reclassified as Bolacothrips kobusi (Deventer) comb. n.

Two of the three recognized genera of Sericothripinae are known from the Neotropics, and 14 new species from this area are here described in this subfamily. Illustrated keys are provided to females of seven species of Hydatothrips, and 41 species of Neohydatothrips, mainly from Brazil but including all recorded species south of the border between Mexico and USA. Plant species on which breeding has been recorded are indicated where possible, notes are provided on the few species of economic importance, and a key is appended to second instar larvae of seven species. Neohydatothrips burungae (Hood) stat. rev. and N. aztecus Johansen stat. rev. are recalled from synonymy with Neohydatothrips signifer (Priesner), and N. denigratus (De Santis) syn. n. is synonymized with N. burungae. Hydatothrips williamsi (Hood) comb. n. is relocated from Neohydatothrips, and as this produces a homonym in the genus, Hydatothrips tareei nom. nov. is proposed for Hydatothrips williamsi Mound & Tree from Australia.

Thrips (Thysanoptera) on 33 species of Fabaceae (ornamental and forage) and some weed species were surveyed in areas of caatinga-cerrado ecotone in northeastern Brazil. Twenty species of thrips were identified, all of which are associated for the first time with the plants sampled in this study, totaling 26 new host associations, based on collections of immatures. Five species are probably new to science, illustrating the diversity of thrips in the region. A few thrips species that also occur as pests in other regions of Brazil are discussed. Our data extend the distribution area of thrips species and provide basic information on their associated plants.