Social behaviour in a thrips from Panama

Summary

Anactinothrips gustaviae is an advanced parasocial thrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae) from Panama which lives in colonies on smooth-barked trees, reproduces communally, cooperatively broods young, and forages in a highly coordinated fashion (with young, if present). Although this species is presumably haplodiploid, we argue that the patchy, but intergenerationally stable, food supply is the primary factor which has promoted the evolution of advanced social behaviours in this species as opposed to most other thrips.