Generic diagnosis

Elongate, pale macropterous Phlaeothripinae with exceptionally long major setae. Head longer than wide with 2 pairs of long postocular setae, jennibeardae with long ocellar tubercles; stylets retracted to postocular setae, close together medially; mouth cone extending across prosternum. Antennae 8-segmented; jennibeardae with 2 sense cones on segment III, 3 on IV (grandisetis with 1 on III, 2 on IV); VIII narrowed to base. Pronotum with 5 pairs of major setae that are as long as median length of pronotum, each with apical fringe; posteroangular and epimeral setae arising from pronounced tubercles; notopleural sutures obscured, probably complete. Prosternal basantra not developed, ferna large, mesopresternum reduced to paired lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures not developed. Mesonotal lateral setae long; metanotum reticulate, reticles with internal markings, median setae minute. Fore tarsus with no tooth, legs slender. Fore wing slender without duplicated cilia. Pelta triangular, tergite I laterally with pair of long setae; tergites II–VIII each with 2 pairs of major setae laterally arising from tubercles, II–VII each with 2 pairs of strongly sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 capitate; tube about 0.8 as long as abdominal segments II–IX. Male similar to female, sternite VIII posterior third with transverse pore plate. Larvae with many long setae similar to adults.

Nomenclatural data

Neohoodiella Bournier, 1997: 143. Type species Neohoodiella grandisetis Bournier, 1997, by monotypy.

There are only two species placed in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Neohoodiella jennibeardae Mound & Williams, 2002: 18

Relationship data

Because of the extremely long tenth abdominal segment this genus has been considered related to Leeuwenia, but the mesopresternum is complete in species of that genus.

Distribution data

Of the two known species in the genus, one is from New Caledonia and the other from wet forest in eastern Australia.

Biological data

The Australian species has been found feeding and breeding on the hairy leaves of Ficus coronata [Moraceae] and Ripogonum elseyanum [Smilacaceae].

References

Mound LA & Williams G. (2003) Host-plant Disjunction in a New Species of Neohoodiella (Insecta, Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), with Notes on Leaf-Frequenting Thrips in New South Wales Subtropical Rainforests. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW 124: 17–28.

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