Generic diagnosis

Large to medium sized, macropterous, micropterous or apterous Phlaeothripinae. Body surface usually with linear or weakly polygonal sculpture. Head longer or shorter than wide; postocular setae well developed, pointed or capitate, varying from longer to shorter than eye length; maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, usually close together medially (sometimes sub-parallel medially). Antennae 8-segmented, segment III with 3 or 2 sense cones, IV with 2–4 (usually 4). Pronotum usually with 5 pairs of major setae, but anteromarginals and midlaterals sometimes not developed; notopleural sutures complete (rarely incomplete anterolaterally). Prosternal basantra usually absent; mesopresternum variable, complete, reduced to 2 or 3 plates or absent; mesoeusternal anterior margin usually entire but sometimes strongly eroded; metathoracic sternopleural sutures present. Metanotum sometimes reticulate medially. Fore tarsal tooth usually present in both sexes, often absent in females. Fore wings sometimes absent or reduced, when present usually parallel sided, duplicated cilia usually present. Pelta shape variable, campaniform sensilla present; tergites II–VII each with two pairs (rarely one pair) of wing-retaining setae, short and straight in wingless individuals; tube shorter than head, anal setae length variable. Male sternite VIII usually with pore plate; several intermediate sternites often with areas of specialized reticulation anterolaterally.

Nomenclatural data

Hoplothrips Amyot & Serville, 1843: 640. Type species Thrips corticis De Geer 1773, by subsequent designation of Karny, 1912: 323.

There are 130 species worldwide listed in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Hoplothrips bellingeni Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 304
Hoplothrips connexus (Hood, 1919: 84)
Hoplothrips corticis (De Geer, 1773: 11)
Hoplothrips fungosus Moulton, 1928: 305
Hoplothrips giganteus Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 306
Hoplothrips lamingtoni Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 307
Hoplothrips lihongae Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 308
Hoplothrips lowdeni Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 308
Hoplothrips melanurus (Bagnall, 1919: 276)
Hoplothrips nelsoni Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 310
Hoplothrips oakeyi Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 312
Hoplothrips orientalis (Ananthakrishnan, 1969: 179)
Hoplothrips oudeus Mound & Walker, 1986: 62
Hoplothrips poultoni (Bagnall & Kelly, 1929: 90)
Hoplothrips reedi Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 315
Hoplothrips semicaecus (Uzel, 1895: 249)
Hoplothrips tarsus Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 317
Hoplothrips woodsi Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 320
Hoplothrips wrightae Mound, Wang & Tree, 2020: 322

Relationship data

The structural variation within and among species of Hoplothrips is very confusing. Part of this variation is related to wing-length and to sex, but some is polyphenic in association with body size and involves allometry of various structures.This genus is a member of a complex that includes Deplorothrips and Psalidothrips, in which species have relatively short maxillary stylets. Contrary to a tradition from the 1930's the genus Hoplandrothrips is probably also closely related to Hoplothrips, but includes species with longer stylets that are deeply retracted into the head, and in which the fore wings are slightly constricted medially.

Distribution data

This genus is recorded worldwide, and species have been found widely across the less arid parts of Australia.

Biological data

The included species are all fungus-feeding on dead branches.

References

Mound LA, Wang J, Tree D (2020) The genus Hoplothrips in Australia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), with eleven new species. Zootaxa 4718 (3): 301–323.

ThripsWiki (2022) ThripsWiki - providing information on the World's thrips. Available from: http://thrips.info/wiki/ (Accessed 15.iii.2022)