Hercinothrips bicinctus
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Both sexes fully winged. Body brown, head yellow at anterior; legs yellow, mid and hind femora brown; III � V largely yellow; forewing with extensive pale area medially between two darker bands. Head reticulate with transverse occipital ridge; ocellar setae III on anterior margins of triangle; three pairs of postocular setae present. Pronotum with no long setae. Mesonotum reticulate on anterior half, lateral setae small. Metanotum reticulate medially, median setae arise medially. Tarsi all 2-segmented. Forewing with two complete rows of setae, posteromarginal cilia wavy. Abdominal tergites weakly reticulate medially, median pair of setae small; posterior margins without a craspedum, VIII with comb of microtrichia laterally; tergite X with longitudinal split almost complete. Male sternites III � VII with very small slender transverse glandular area.
Related and similar species
There are eight species recognized in the genus Hercinothrips. Each of these is originally from Africa, but two of them are now widespread. H. bicintus is very similar to H. femoralis, but has the forewings more extensively pale medially. Hercinothrips species all have 2-segmented tarsi, and both longitudinal veins on the forewing bear a complete row of setae.
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Hercinothrips bicinctus (Bagnall)
Original name and synonyms
Heliothrips bicinctus Bagnall, 1919: 258
Heliothrips bifasciipennis Girault, 1926: 1
Family placement
Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae
Common names
Banded greenhouse thrips; Banana silvering thrips
Biological data
Life history
Breeding on leaves.
Host plants
Many different and unrelated plant species, including several crops.
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
Causing leaf damage to various plants, usually under glass, including bananas.
Distribution data
Area of origin
Africa
Distribution
Widespread around the world in tropical and subtropical areas
