Fernothrips, Okajima & Masumoto, 2023

Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2023, Six genera of the subtribe Macrothripina from Southeast Asia to Taiwan (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 5291 (1), pp. 1-74 : 64

Fernothrips gen. n.

Large sized species of Macrothripina . Head elongate; cheeks with short spine-like setae, each probably with an ommatidium-like structure just behind eyes (this structure is hard to see because it is overlapping with compound eyes). A pair of postocular setae well developed; ocellar setae minute. Antennae 8-segmented; segments III and IV subequal in length; segment III with two, segment IV with four short and curved sense-cones (there is a possibility that each of these segments with an additional small sense-cone, see remarks of the type-species description). Mouth cone short and rounded; maxillary stylets V-shaped, retracted to the middle of cheeks. Pronotum stout, a little broader than long, notopleural sutures complete. Ferna largely developed, longer than broad; basantra present. Fore legs stout; fore femora exceptionally enlarged, inner surface widely densely scattered with numerous small tubercles; fore tibiae each with an inner apical tubercle or tooth; fore tarsal tooth well developed, elongate. Metanotal median setae short. Pelta broadly triangular, similar to Machatothrips , but rounded laterally. Tube somewhat heavy, longer than head.

Type-species. Fernothrips femoralis sp. n.

Remarks. This genus may be related to the genera Ethirothrips and Ischyrothrips , but the largely developed prosternal ferna are unusual in the subtribe Macrothripina . Machatothrips has somewhat similar fore femoral armature, but has the peculiar elongate anteocellar pair of setae, moderately developed broader prosternal ferna, and no fore tibial apical tooth.