The genus Hoplothrips in Australia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), with eleven new species Author Mound, Laurence A. Author Wang, Jun Author Tree, Desley J. text Zootaxa 2020 2020-01-07 4718 3 301 323 journal article 24425 10.11646/zootaxa.4718.3.1 0539e3ec-e2d6-4ed3-9f5e-22677babf264 1175-5326 3602430 09F9270F-589A-471D-A912-2F2788544399 Hoplothrips semicaecus (Uzel) ( Figs 20 , 42, 43, 44 ) Trichothrips semicaeca Uzel, 1895: 249 . Macropterous female . Body, femora and antennae light brown, tibiae and tarsi yellow, and antennal segment III partly yellow; fore wings pale. Head with maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, less than one fifth of head width apart medially; postocular setae bluntly pointed ( Fig. 20 ). Antennal segment III apex variable in shape with 2 (or 3) sense cones, IV with 2 (or 3–4) sense cones; ventrally IV–VI with variable number of small sensory hairs (up to 25 on IV); VIII only weakly narrowed to base ( Fig. 42 ). Pronotum without sculpture medially; with 4 pairs of pointed major setae, am small; prosternal basantra absent. Fore tarsal tooth small. Metanotum without sculpture medially. Fore wing with 8–10 duplicated cilia. Abdominal tergites II–VII with two pairs of curved wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae S1 pointed, more than half as long as tube. Female aptera . Largely yellow with tube brown, tergites shaded medially; antennal segment IV with fewer sensory hairs ventrally ( Fig. 43 ); compound eyes small, postocular setae long and finely pointed; maxillary stylets close together medially; fore tarsal tooth large; tergal wing-retaining setae small and straight. Male aptera . Eyes small, no ocelli; large males with fore femora swollen and tarsal tooth large; tergite IX setae S2 about half as long as S1; sternites IV–VII with specialised reticulate areas laterally, VIII with irregular transverse pore plate not extending the full width of sternite. Specimens studied. Australian Capital Territory , Mt Majura , 1 male aptera from leaf litter, 9.i.1968 . Tasmania , Picton Valley , 1 female macroptera from dead wood, 29.v.2001 . Comments . Described from Europe where it is widespread ( Mound et al . 2018 ), and with one synonym from North America, this species is also recorded from Japan and New Zealand . However, the range of variation recorded amongst specimens from New Zealand ( Mound & Walker 1986 ) suggests that this species originated in the southern hemisphere, with subsequent dispersal to Europe and America by human trading. Prior to the description above of bellingeni , the antennae of semicaecus were considered unique amongst Hoplothrips species worldwide in bearing ventrally on antennal segment IV a group of small sensory hairs ( Fig. 42 ) ( sensilla basiconica ). The similarity in the antennae of these two species might support the suggestion that semicaecus is part of the Australasian diversification within Hoplothrips , however bellingeni and semicaecus do not seem to be particularly closely related, judging from the differences in their maxillary stylets.