Sophiothrips Hood

Dang, Li-Hong, Mound, Laurence A. & Qiao, Ge-Xia, 2014, Conspectus of the Phlaeothripinae genera from China and Southeast Asia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3807 (1), pp. 1-82 : 71

Sophiothrips Hood

( Figs 94, 95 )

Sophiothrips Hood, 1934: 425 . Type species: Sophiothrips squamosus Hood , by original designation.

The 25 species included in this genus, from various parts of the tropics and subtropics around the world, involve some of the smallest Phlaeothripinae . Despite their small size, several species are polymorphic, with major males differing in structure from minor males, and winged individuals differing considerably from wingless adults ( Mound & Walker 1982). Two species are recorded from Taiwan, two from Indonesia, and one from Malaysia. These thrips are commonly found living on dead twigs, in association with fungi.

Diagnosis: Head broader than long ( Fig. 94 ); interocellar and postocular setae present but small, postoculars near cheeks; mouth-cone rounded, stylets short, V-shaped, restricted to mouth-cone; antennae 8-segmented, VIII not constricted basally, III with 1 or 2 sensoria, IV with 2; pronotum usually with 3 pairs of major setae; notopleural sutures usually complete; basantra small or absent; mesopresternum narrow or reduced ( Fig. 95 ); sternopleural sutures present; fore tarsal tooth present in male, present or absent in female; fore wings, if present, parallel-sided without duplicated cilia; pelta broad; tergites II–VII with 1 pair of wing-retaining setae; tube longer than head, anal setae much shorter than tube; male sternite VIII usually without pore plate.

Figures

FIGURES 92–96. Phlaeothrips-lineage. Veerabahuthrips spp. 92–93 head, pronotum & foreleg: (92) crassipes; (93) simplex. Sophiothrips annulatus 94–95: (94) head, thorax & tergites I–II; (95) ventral view of thorax. (96) Streptothrips tribulatius, antenna.