The Tubulifera (Hexapoda, Thysanoptera) of the Maltese Islands

This work records the presence of 13 species of tubuliferan thrips from the Maltese Islands. Eleven of these species, namely Bolothripsdentipes, B.insularis, Priesneriellamavromoustakisi, Gynaikothripsuzeli, Haplothripsacanthoscelis, H.aculeatus, H.setiger, H.tritici, Karnyothripsflavipes, Liothripsreuteri and Neoheegeriadalmatica are new records for the Maltese Islands. Two species: Gynaikothripsficorum and Karnyothripsflavipes can be described as subcosmopolitan in distribution, another three species: Haplothripsaculeatus, H.setiger and H.tritici are distributed across the Holarctic and Palaearctic regions, while a further seven: Bolothripsdentipes, B.insularis, Haplothripsacanthoscelis, Liothripsoleae, L.reuteri, Neoheegeriadalmatica and Priesneriellamavromoustakisi have a European and/or Mediterranean distribution. Gynaikothripsficorum and G.uzeli are considered as alien species. A key to the Tubulifera of the Maltese Islands as well as chorological data for these recorded species are provided in this work.