Malacothrips Hinds

Malacothrips Hinds

Worldwide there are 15 species listed in this genus, but these are possibly not all closely related. Five of them are from Africa, but even the nine New World species in the key provided by Mound and Marullo (1996), are curiously diverse. No species of Malacothrips has yet been recorded from Australia, but two specimens in ANIC, from the Northern Territory near Darwin, appear to represent this genus (Fig. 29).

Diagnosis. Head longer than wide, cheeks with weak setae; postocular setae long, capitate; stylets usually about one fifth of head width apart; antennae 8-segmented, VIII with basal neck, III with 3 sensoria, IV with 4; pronotum usually with 4 pairs of slender, capitate setae, anteromarginals reduced; notopleural sutures complete; basantra present; mesopraesternum variable; sternopleural sutures present; fore tarsi usually with tooth in both sexes; fore wings weakly constricted medially, with or without duplicated cilia; pelta bell-shaped; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of wing retaining setae; tube shorter than head, anal setae longer than tube; male sternite VIII with or without pore plate.