Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Macropterous, body and legs mainly yellow, tergites II–VII with dark antecostal line and brown shadings anterolaterally; ocellar triangle, pronotal median area and pteronota weakly shaded brown; fore wing pale. Head with occipital carina not close to eyes; ocellar triangle weakly and irregularly reticulate; ocellar setae III close together behind fore ocellus; three pairs of postocular setae, median pair long and arising laterally. Pronotal sculpture mainly transverse, blotch weakly defined. Metanotum with irregular linear sculpture, without markings between the main lines. Tergites II–VI with no marginal comb medially. Sternites with discal microtrichia extending fully across median area of II–VI, posterior margins with long microtrichia; sternite VII medially with neither discal nor marginal microtrichia.

Related and similar species

This is probably a North or Central American species, among which the lack of a pronotal blotch and rather pale fore wings are more common character states.

Distribution data

Mexico, several Caribbean countries, Texas, Hawaii, India, Thailand, New Caledonia, northern Australia from Brisbane to Darwin.

Biological data

Host plants

Sida rhombifolia, Sida acuta, also species of Malvastrum and Abutilon (Malvaceae)

Life history

Feeding and breeding on leaves

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Neohydatothrips gracilipes (Hood)

Original name and synonyms

• Sericothrips gracilipes Hood, 1924