Figures

Fig. 1 Antenna, head and pronotum
Fig. 2 Fore wing
Fig. 3 Meso- and metanotum

Species

Biology

Leaf-feeding on a range of plants; often regarded as a pest of bananas, on the young fruits of which it induces silver markings.

Distribution

Widespread in the tropics, and established in the moister areas of eastern Australia.

Recognition

Medium sized thrips with adomen dark brown but head and thorax with yellow markings; tibiae largely yellow; forewings pale with two short dark bands. Antennae 8-segmented, segment VIII slender but scarcely three times as long as VII; sensoria on III & IV long and forked. Tarsi 2-segmented. Forewings with first and second veins bearing a complete row of setae.

Related species

Eight species are known in Hercinothrips, all from Africa originally, and all very similar in structure.