Thrips nigropilosus Uzel

Thrips nigropilosus Uzel 1895: 198

This European species is widespread around the world as a minor pest on various plants, including lettuce. In Kenya it has been considered to be associated particularly with the Pyrethrum crop. Adults are variable in structure, and can be either fully winged or micropterous. However, the abdominal tergites always have the median setae long, and with two or more transverse lines of sculpture medially (Fig. 34).

Diagnosis. Macropterous or micropterous; body mainly yellow, setae black, abdominal tergites shaded medially; antennal segments III–VII dark brown; forewings pale with dark setae. Antennae 7-segmented. Ocellar setae III longer than side of triangle, lateral to fore ocellus. Pronotum with 3 pairs of discal setae larger than remaining discal setae, two near anterior margin and one near lateral margins. Metanotum with irregular reticulations (Fig. 33), median setae arising behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent. Tergite II with 3 lateral marginal setae; II–III with median pair of discal setae at least half as long as median length of tergite (Fig. 34); VIII with complete comb of long slender microtrichia; pleurotergites without discal setae; sternites without discal setae.