Dendrothrips homalii Zhang & Tong 1988

Dendrothrips homalii Zhang & Tong

(Figs 5, 12, 17, 38, 41, 50–51)

Dendrothrips homalii Zhang & Tong, 1988: 276.

The type specimens of homalii were collected from Homalium hainanense [Flacourtiaceae] in Hainan province, and a series including the male was collected recently from Populus tomentosa [Salicaceae] in Hunan, China. The type specimens have been compared with D. howeii from Lord Howe Island, Australia, a species that is also introduced to California (Hoddle et al. 2012). These two species are remarkably similar in color or structure, although the available males from Australia are paler than the available male from China. At present it is not possible to decide if they represent the same species. A further similar species is strasseni based on a single female from Mumbai, India, that is also recorded from Nepal by Kudô (1989).

Female body brown, abdominal tergites slightly paler medially (Fig. 50); antennal segment brown, III and IV paler; fore wing white in basal fifth, then brown to apex (Fig. 12). Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV each with a small forked sense cone. Head reticulate on occipital region, ocellar triangle finely tuberculate with weak lines; pronotum transverse reticulate bearing inner winkles and coarse granules, all setae minute but slightly thickened (Fig. 5). Mesonotum with transverse reticles; metanotum longitudinally striate, median setae arising in the middle. Fore wing with uniform microtrichia, veinal setae small, first vein with 7 basal setae and 2 distal setae, second vein generally with 7–9 setae; clavus with 4+1 setae, the apical one longest and blunt. Abdominal tergites III–VIII with transverse anastomosing striae bearing short ridges (Fig. 17); tergite VIII with complete posteromarginal comb.

Male: similar to female (Fig. 51), but abdomen slender, antennae brown (Fig. 41), tergites IV–V pale (Fig. 38).

Material examined. Type series of homalii (in SCAU); Other specimens: CHINA (in SCAU), Hunan, Yiyang, Datonghu Town (29°11′39″N, 112°37′23″E), 8 females, 1 male collected from Populus tomentosa [Salicaceae], 7.xi.2016 (Xiaoli Tong).

Distribution: China (Hunan, Hainan)

Host plants: Homalium hainanense [Flacourtiaceae], Populus tomentosa [Salicaceae].