Hydatothrips sternalis (Hood)

(Figs 4, 14, 80, 81)

Sericothrips sternalis Hood, 1935: 148 .

Female macroptera. Colour: body dark brown (Fig. 80), tergite VI pale; fore wing dark with white sub-basal area and an indistinct paler area medially; antennal segments I–III (or IV) largely pale; hind femora brown, hind tibiae yellow.

Structure: Occipital apodeme confluent with posterior margin of eyes, ocellar area transversely striate (Fig. 4); antennal segments III & IV with constricted apical neck; pronotum with anterior area transversely striate to narrowly reticulate with many markings between the major lines, blotch well-defined (Fig. 4); mesonotum and metanotum striate with markings between the striae; fore wing second vein with 2 setae; tergites II–VIII with comb of microtrichia complete on posterior margin but very short on II–VI; tergite IX with 2 pairs of mid-dorsal setae; sternites with microtrichia present medially, posterior margin with long fringe (Fig. 14).

Male macroptera. Similar to female, but smaller and with tergite VII mostly pale with suffused brown area medially (Fig. 81).

Material studied. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais State, 1 female from pea foliage, 14.vii.1933 (E.J.Hambleton) (USNM) ; Pará State, Itaituba, 1 female from dead twigs, 14.x.2013 (A. Cavalleri) (UFRGS) . ECUADOR, Vinces, 11 females and 2 males from Cedar, 14.x.1944 (E.J.Hambleton) (USNM) .

Comments. This species was described from 14 females and 4 males taken on Barrow Colorado Island, Panama, plus 1 male from Martinique . The holotype, collected from Citrus [ Rutaceae] leaves, and paratypes from Hamelia [ Rubiaceae] leaves, were examined during visits to the USNM. The species is recorded here for the first time from Brazil and Ecuador. Females have the posteromarginal fringe of microtrichia on the median abdominal tergites very short and sometimes difficult to discern.