Apelaunothrips Karny

(Fig. 20)

Apelaunothrips Karny, 1925: 82 . Type species: Ophidothrips medioflavus Karny, by monotypy.

Mound (2013b) provided an identification key to the 38 species listed in this genus, all from the Old World tropics. Of these species, 26 are recorded from SE Asia, with nine from China. Species of this genus are particularly unusual amongst Phlaeothripinae in having the maxillary stylets relatively broad (Fig. 20), but not as broad as in species of Idolothripinae, although it seems that they feed on fungal spores.

Diagnosis: Head often longer than wide, cheeks weakly rounded, without stout setae, slightly incut behind large eyes (Fig. 20); postocular setae usually long, capitate; maxillary stylets long, close together medially, broader than typical Phlaeothripinae; antennae 8-segmented, III with 3 (or 2) sensoria, IV with 4 (or 3) sensoria; pronotum usually with 5 pairs of capitate setae, notopleural sutures complete; basantra absent; mesopresternum transverse; no sternopleural sutures; fore tarsi usually without tooth in both sexes; fore wings, if present, weakly constricted medially, with duplicated cilia; pelta triangular or bell-shaped; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae in macropterae; tube shorter than head, anal setae usually shorter than tube; male sternite VIII without pore plate.