Generic diagnosis

Large, dark, macropterous Idolothripinae varying greatly in size within species. Head 2–4 times as long as wide, usually projecting in front of eyes, with pair of long ocellar setae just behind first ocellus; genae with stout, spine-like setae; maxillary stylets broad, wide apart, retracted no more than one-third into head. Antennae 8-segmented; segment III 4–7 times as long as wide; 2 sense cones on III, 4 sense cones on IV. Pronotum with 5 pairs of major setae; notopleural sutures complete. Metanotum with reticulate sculpture. Prosternal basantra present, usually small; ferna large; mesopresternum complete and boat-shaped; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Male fore femur enlarged, usually with sickle-shaped seta at apex; fore tarsal tooth large in large male, usually absent in female. Fore wing broad and parallel sided, with many duplicated cilia. Pelta broadly triangular, or with lateral lobes that are sometimes almost detached; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae and usually with additional curved setae; tube shorter than head, without prominent lateral setae. Male sternite VIII without pore plate, tergite IX setae S2 as long as setae S1.

Relationships

This is one of 10 genera in the subtribe Elaphrothripina, Idolothripini (Mound & Palmer, 1983), and is the most diverse and species-rich genus within the Idolothripinae.

Biology

The large-bodied species that comprise this genus can often be found forming large colonies on dead branches, or bunches of dead leaves, where they feed on fungal spores.

Distribution

The only record of this genus in the present target area is based on a single male taken in flight in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Apart from a few species in North America, the members of this genus are mainly from the wet tropics of the Old World but with some from the Neotropics.

Nomenclature

Elaphrothrips Buffa, 1909: 162. Type species Idolothrips coniferarum Pergande, by subsequent designation Andre, 1940.

More than 140 species are listed in this genus, mainly from tropical countries around the world (ThripsWiki, 2023)

Euro-Mediterranean species
Elaphrothrips parvus Priesner, 1936: 102.

References

Mound LA & Palmer JM (1983) The generic and tribal classification of spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 1–174.

Priesner H (1936) On some further new Thysanoptera from the Sudan. Bulletin de la Societe Royale entomologique d'Egypte 20: 83–104.