Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter)

(Figs 11–22, 38–39)

Heliothrips femoralis Reuter, 1891: 166 .

This species is widespread around the world in tropical and subtropical areas (Roditakis et al. 2006). Feeding by larvae and adults can cause leaf damage to many kinds of plants, including calla lily ( Zantedeschia aethiopica), chrysanthemums, figs ( Ficus spp.), banana, cotton, cowpea, cucumber, groundnut, maize, sugar beet, sugar cane and tomato (Moritz et al. 2013). A large population has been found in China in greenhouse damaging the leaves of cabbage (Fig. 20) and sweet potato.

In addition to the generic character states indicated above, this species can be identified by: body brown to dark brown, head with yellow longitudinal areas between eyes and ocelli; fore wing mainly brown but pale at apex, subbasally, and submedian areas, posteromarginal cilia wavy (Fig. 16); antennae 8-segmented, segments III & IV each with a small forked sense cone (Fig. 13); head, pronotum, meso-metanotum reticulate with internal wrinkles (Fig. 11); metanotum median setae arise medially with one pair of campaniform sensilla (Fig. 12); abdominal tergites weakly reticulate medially, median pair of setae small, posterior margins with complete craspedum; tergite VIII with comb of a few microtrichia laterally but none medially; tergite X with longitudinal split almost complete. Male with sternal marginal setae minute, sternites III–VII with slender transverse pore plate (Fig. 14), tergite IX with 3 pairs of thorn-like setae and a few wartlike tubercles (Fig. 15).

The eggs were inserted into the leaves, slightly protruding from the surrounding leaf surface, and a pair of eyespots could be seen before hatching (Figs 17, 18). The first and second instar larvae are yellow, and always bear a drop of dark excretion on the abdomen apex (Fig. 19), and this is left as black spots on the leaf surface. The second instar larvae have 7-segmented antennae (Fig. 21), with the major body setae short and pointed (Fig. 22).

Material studied. CHINA, Guangdong, Guangzhou, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (23°10′N, 113°30′E), 25 females, 6 males from sweet potato, 12.iv.2022 (Zhaohong Wang) ; same location 6 females, 4 males from cabbage, 30.vi.2022 .