Biology of <i>Gynaikothrips cecidii</i> Ananthakrishnan (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) and Key to the Species of <i>Gynaikothrips</i> Karny from India

The biology of Gynaikothrips cecidii Ananthakrishnan (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), an established gall inducing species revealed that the duration of its life cycle on Ficus benjamina L. (Moraceae) ranged from 23 to 25 days under lab conditions at 27 ± 2 °C with 65 ± 5% RH for its development from egg to adult with the approximate generation time of 28.66 days, fecundity of 48 eggs/female and adult longevity of 16.5 days. The estimated value of the intrinsic rate of increase in population (rc) was 0.135, the density of gall thrips G. cecidii doubled (DT) in 5.172 days and the population multiplied 2.55 times every week. In addition to the life table statistics, an updated key is provided for the eleven species of Gynaikothrips recorded in India.