Hoplothrips Amyot & Serville

Hoplothrips Amyot & Serville

With 130 species listed worldwide, this genus poses considerable taxonomic problems and is likely to be polyphyletic. Many species are highly polymorphic, with winged and wingless individuals differing considerably in structure, and also exhibiting sexual dimorphism (Fig. 23). These thrips live on dead wood, and a few species seem to have become widely distributed around the world (Mound & Walker 1986). Four species are recorded from Australia, H. connexus, H. fungosus, H. melanurus and H. orientalis, but further species are represented in ANIC, mostly from very few specimens, and the genus requires considerable study. As indicated above, this genus is not clearly distinguished from Hoplandrothrips, although Priesner (1961) placed them in different major groups.

Diagnosis. Often sexually dimorphic, also wing-length polymorphic; head usually slightly longer than wide; postocular setae usually well developed, pointed or capitate; stylets usually long and close medially; antennae 8- segmented, VIII usually constricted basally, III with 3 sensoria, IV with 4; pronotum with major setae variable; notopleural sutures usually complete, sometimes incomplete or nearly complete; basantra absent, rarely present; mesopraesternum variable, often divided into three plates; sternopleural sutures present; fore tarsal tooth usually present in both sexes; fore wings, parallel-sided if present, with duplicated cilia; pelta usually bell-shaped; tergites II–VII usually each with 2 pairs of wing retaining setae; tube variable in shape, anal setae usually shorter than tube, often longer; male sternites often with paired reticulated areas, sternite VIII with pore plate.