Hercinothrips femoralis (O. M. Reuter, 1891)

Biology
A highly polyphagous leaf-feeding species, H. femoralis has been recorded as a pest on various crops including sugar beet, groundnuts, figs, and many glasshouse ornamentals.
Distribution
Widespread in the tropics and subtropics.
Recognition
Body brown, head yellowish brown sub-medially; tarsi and tibiae yellow, also antennal segments I & III-V; forewing largely dark brown, pale at apex and sub-basally, and with a paler transverse band distal to mid point. Head finely reticulate, cheeks slightly convex, sharply constricted to basal neck. Antennae 8-segmented, VIII more than twice as long as VII; III & IV with sense cone forked and short, scarcely extending beyond apex of segment. Pronotum finely reticulate, with several pairs of moderately long discal setae. Mesonotum not divided medially. Metanotum with weakly defined reticulate triangular area medially, median setae long, 1 pair of campaniform sensilla present. Tarsi 2-segmented. Forewing with complete row of setae on both longitudinal veins; costal cilia longer than setae; posteromarginal cilia wavy. Abdominal tergites finely reticulate; median tergal setae minute; tergite VIII with posteromarginal comb of long microtrichia laterally; tergite X not fully divided medially.
Related species
Of the nine species recognised in this genus, all African in origin, several are recorded as crop pests and are now widespread around the world. They can be distinguished from each other by differences in the colour pattern of the forewings, and by details of the abdominal sculpture (Wilson 1975).

Images Image gallery gel images ITS-RFLP image gallery offline ITS RFLP Identificationoffline ID online ID with php data matrixonline ID