Gynaikothrips Zimmermann

(Fig. 38)

Gynaikothrips Zimmermann, 1900: 13 . Type species: Mesothrips uzeli Zimmermann, by monotypy.

Sauridothrips Priesner, 1953: 371 . Type species: Sauridothrips phlaeothripinus Priesner, by monotypy. Syn.n.

The species of this Old World tropical genus are commonly found inducing galls on the leaves of Ficus trees. However, the genus is not well defined, and not all the 40 listed species are closely related. The genus is a member of the Liothrips- lineage, and the species have one sensorium on antennal segment III and three on IV, although one of the sensoria on IV is sometimes small. The genus Sauridothrips was erected for a single species taken in Vietnam. This has rather long antennae, and very short post ocular setae, but is here considered a species of Gynaikothrips with stout abdominal setae that have pale blunt apices. Gynaikothrips is closely related to Gigantothrips, but species in that genus have more than four pairs of wing-retaining setae on abdominal tergites II–V. Despite this, some large Gynaikothrips species have several accessory sigmoid wing-retaining setae in addition to the two main pairs, and these are then difficult to distinguish from Gigantothrips . Of the 39 species in Gynaikothrips, two are known from Africa, 12 only from India, seven from Pacific islands particularly Fiji, seven from Indonesia, one from Vietnam, and two from the Philippines. Four species are recorded from mainland China, including oblongus Okajima. Two species described by Reyes (1996) from the Philippines are here transferred to Gigantothrips .

Diagnosis: Body commonly finely reticulate, head longer than wide (Fig. 38); eyes normal, postocular setae developed or reduced, but sometimes with 2 pairs of postoculars; stylets usually short, retracted into one third of head length, close together; antennae 8-segmented, III with 1 sensorium, IV with 3; pronotum with major setae variable, but epimerals always developed, notopleural sutures complete or incomplete; basantra absent; mesopresternum transverse, sometimes eroded medially; sternopleural sutures absent; fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes, sometimes small; fore wings parallel-sided, with duplicated cilia; pelta triangular; tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae, usually with accessory wing-retaining setae; tube variable, anal setae shorter than tube; male sternite VIII with pore plate.