Thrips tenellus Trybom

Thrips alni tenella Trybom, 1913: 6

Described from a single female collected in 1904 under a stone in Natal, this thrips appears to be common in at least the eastern areas of South Africa. It is quite similar to microchaetus, but that species occurs in countries further north and lacks the dark median mark on the tergites.

Diagnosis. Body and legs yellow, tergites II–VII with brown median area, IX yellow, X brown at apex; antennal segments I-III yellow, IV-VII brown; forewings pale. Antennae 7-segmented. Ocellar setae III lateral to fore ocellus. Pronotum with many transverse lines and many small discal setae. Metanotal median setae not at anterior margin, sculpture transverse on anterior, similar to palmi on posterior, no campaniform sensilla. Tergal lines of sculpture extend medially to setae S1; posterior margin of VIII weakly concave, with complete but irregular comb. Pleurotergites with 3–5 discal setae; sternites with numerous discal setae in more than one irregular row (Fig. 53).