Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macropterous; Body brown, head yellow sub-medially, also abdominal segments IX-X; tarsi and tibiae yellow, also antennal segments I and III-VIII; fore wing pale, lightly shaded at base, with 2 short dark brown transverse bands. Head reticulate, cheeks convex, constricted to basal neck. Antennae 8-segmented, VIII more than twice as long as VII; III and IV with forked sensorium extending well beyond apex of segment. Pronotum with several pairs of moderately long discal setae. Metanotum with weakly defined reticulate triangular area medially, median setae long. Tarsi 2-segmented. Fore wing with complete row of setae on both veins. Abdominal tergites finely reticulate; median tergal setae minute; tergite VIII with posteromarginal comb of long microtrichia laterally; tergite X median split not complete.

Related and similar species

Hercinothrips is a genus of nine species, all presumably African in origin, but of which two very similar species have become widespread around the world as minor pests on various crops.

Distribution data

Pantropical, sometimes considered a pest of bananas.

Biological data

Host plants

Many different plant species, with no obvious pattern

Life history

Adults and larvae sometimes abundant on older leaves

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Hercinothrips bicinctus (Bagnall)

Original name and synonyms

• Heliothrips bicinctus Bagnall, 1913
• Heliothrips bifasciipennis Girault, 1926