Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macropterous; body brown, head yellowish sub-medially; tarsi and tibiae yellow, also antennal segments I and III–V; fore wing dark brown, pale at apex and sub-basally, with paler transverse band distal to mid point. Head reticulate, cheeks convex, constricted to basal neck. Antennae 8-segmented, VIII more than twice as long as VII; III and IV with short forked sensorium that extends scarcely beyond segment apex. 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, also common in temperate areas in greenhouses.

Biological data

Host plants

Many different plant species, with no obvious pattern of association

Life history

Adults and larvae usually on mature leaves

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter)

Original name and synonyms

• Heliothrips femoralis Reuter, 1891
• Heliothrips cestri Pergande, 1895
• Heliothrips apicalis Bondar, 1931