Liophloeothrips Priesner

(Fig. 122)

Liophloeothrips Priesner, 1919: 138 . Type species: Liophloeothrips glaber Priesner, by monotypy.

The name for this genus is frequently mis-spelled as ‘ Liophlaeothrips’ in literature from India, despite the spelling given originally by Priesner. Most of the 16 listed species are from India, but one of these has been recorded from Guangdong and Hainan provinces (Zhang 1984). Seven of the species are reported to be leaf-feeders that induce galls (Tyagi & Kumar 2011), but the other species have been taken from grasses, dead branches and from bark. Although interpreted here as a member of the Liothrips- lineage, some species of Liophloeothrips have only two sensoria on the fourth antennal segment.

Diagnosis: Head longer than wide (Fig. 122); eyes normal, postocular setae well-developed; stylets retracted to postocular setae, close together medially; antennae 8-segmented, III with 1 sensorium, IV with 3 (or 2); pronotum with 5 pairs of capitate setae, notopleural sutures complete; basantra absent; mesopresternum eroded medially; sternopleural sutures present; fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes; fore wings parallel-sided, with duplicated cilia; pelta bell-shaped or triangular; tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae; tergite IX with setae S1 and S2 well-developed and expanded at apex in both sexes; tube shorter than head; male sternite VIII with pore plate.