Ablemothrips Ananthakrishnan

(Fig. 1)

Ablemothrips Ananthakrishnan, 1969: 289. Type species: Ablemothrips maxillatus Ananthakrishnan, by monotypy.

Of the three species listed in this genus, two are from Thailand, but the type species was described from India and later recorded from southern Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines (Okajima 2006). This genus is probably related to Holothrips, although the dorsal surface of the head is strongly reticulate (Fig. 1), and in females the postocular setae arise behind the inner margin of the eyes. Three specimens of maxillatus have been studied, one from India identified by Ananthakrishnan, and two from Taiwan identified by Okajima. Each of these has three sensoria on antennal segment III, although the redescription by Okajima (2006) states that there are only two on this segment. Similarly, Okajima (1999a) indicates that two of the three species in this genus have four sensoria on segment IV, but breviceps has only two sensoria.

Diagnosis: Head much longer than wide (Fig. 1); postocular setae arise between inner margin of eyes in female, wide apart in male; stylets retracted to eyes, close together along full length of head; antennae 8- segmented, VIII closely fused to VII, III with 2 or 3 sensoria, IV with 4 (or 2); pronotum usually with 5 pairs of capitate setae, notopleural sutures almost complete; basantra absent; mesopresternum eroded medially; sternopleural sutures absent; fore tarsal tooth absent in both sexes; fore wings weakly constricted medially, without duplicated cilia; pelta hat-shaped with narrow lateral wings; tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae; tube with straight sides, much shorter than head; male sternite VIII without pore plate.