Key to Heliothrips species

[based on Nakahara et al. 2015]

1. Metascutal triangle with posteromarginal flange absent, or distant from anterior margin of metascutellum; abdominal tergite I with median minute setal pair arising on reticulate area; tergites III–VIII with reticulation in front of antecostal ridge weakly developed or absent............................................................................... similis

-. Metascutal triangle with posteromarginal flange extending to or over anterior margin of metascutellum (Figs 11, 12); tergite I with median minute setal pair arising anterior to reticulate area (Fig. 7); tergites III–VIII with reticulation in front of antecostal ridge strongly developed (Fig. 5)........................................................................ 2

2. Femora dark brown; antennal segment VI dark brown with base slightly paler................................. zucchi

-. Femora yellow; antennal segment VI yellow at least in basal half............................................... 3

3. Female abdominal tergite X uniformly brown, segments VIII–IX uniformly brown to dark brown not yellowish (Fig. 15); antennal segment II dark brown, base of antennal segments IV and V stout, slender dorsal sense cone on IV extending to middle or apical third of VI (Fig. 13); mesoscutum with reticles anterior to median setae narrowly transverse (Fig. 11)................................................................................................ longisensibilis sp.n.

-. Female abdominal tergite X basal half light brown to yellow brown, with darker apical band, segments VIII–IX often yellowish (Fig. 16); antennal segment II yellowish-brown with apex paler; base of antennal segments IV and V narrowed to basal neck (Fig. 14), slender dorsal sense cone on IV rarely extending as far as middle of VI; mesoscutum with reticles anterior to median setae irregularly polygonal (Fig. 12).......................................................... haemorrhoidalis