Holopothrips graminis Hood

(Figs 83–87)

Holopothrips graminis Hood, 1955: 149 .

Diagnostic features. Body (except antenna) uniformly brown; maxillary stylets parallel; one pair of long setae on epimeral region; minute chitinous islets present anterior to ferna; metanotal sculpture formed by very thin reticles anteriorly, looking almost striate, and elongate posteriorly; pelta with small lateral wings basally, reticulation weaker or absent near anterior and posterior margins, without internal markings; female spermatheca not enlarged.

Comments. The original description of the species placed H. graminis tentatively within the genus Holopothrips, due to this species not having the enlarged bean-shaped eyes common to the genus, but several other species recognized as Holopothrips also lack such enlarged eyes. The type specimens of this species were collected probably together with the type series of H. erianthi, as both descriptions have the same collection data. However, both species are readily distinguished by the number of sense cones on antennal segments III–IV (2 in H. graminis, 3 in H. erianthi), tip of pronotal setae (acute to blunt in H. graminis, capitate in H. erianthi) and metanotal sculpture (Fig. 84) (elongate reticles in H. graminis, striate in H. erianthi).

Material studied. 1 female paratype; Brazil, São Paulo, Piracicaba, in Erianthus asper, 3.viii.1950 (Souza Dias, D.P.), at NMNH. Slide with code “ Hood No. 1282”.