Neohydatothrips gracilipes (Hood)

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, And Desley J., 2009, Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 1983, pp. 1-22 : 16

Neohydatothrips gracilipes (Hood)

( Figs 52–55 )

Sericothrips gracilipes Hood, 1924: 149

Described from Mexico, this species has been reported from several Caribbean countries as well as Texas, Hawaii and India ( Bhatti, 1999; Mound & Marullo, 1996). Specimens have also been seen from Thailand and New Caledonia, as well as from several sites in northern Australia including Brisbane, Cape Tribulation, Mapoon and Darwin. It is associated with several common Malvaceous weeds, Sida rhombifolia and Sida acuta , as well as Malvastrum and Abutilon . Males have not been studied.

Female macroptera. Body and legs mainly yellow, tergites II–VII with dark antecostal line and brown shadings anterolaterally; ocellar triangle, pronotal median area and pteronota weakly shaded brown; forewings pale. Head with occipital carina not close to eyes; ocellar triangle weakly and irregularly reticulate; ocellar setae III close together behind fore ocellus; three pairs of postocular setae, median pair long and arising laterally. Pronotal sculpture mainly transverse, blotch weakly defined. Metanotum with irregular linear sculpture, without markings between the main lines. Tergites II–VI with no marginal comb medially. Discal microtrichia extending fully across sternites II–VI, posterior margins with long microtrichia; sternite VII medially with neither discal nor marginal microtrichia.

Figures

FIGURES 46 – 55. Neohydatothrips diana & N. gracilipes. (46 – 51) N. diana, (46) Head; (47) Meso & metanota; (48) Tergites; (49) Metasternum; (50) Meso & metanota; (51) Forewing apex. (52 – 55) N. gracilipes, (52) Head & pronotum (53) Sternites; (54) Larva II tergal setae; (55) Meso & metanota.