148 L. A. MOUND 



tion of pomeroyi from Cameroon and five other specimens from Nigeria. It is 

 possible that vuilleti Karny, 1920b from Cameroon is also the same species. 



The holotype of nigeriensis is a teneral specimen that has been treated with caustic alkali, 

 and this explains the pale colour of the legs. The sexual dimorphism and the differences 

 between the major and minor males are particularly interesting in this species. The female 

 has short postocular setae close to the inner margin of the eye, unarmed fore tibiae, well 

 developed pronotal anteromarginal setae, and four to six pairs of setae on the metanotum. 

 The male has long postocular setae arising laterally on the cheeks, a small tooth on the inner 

 margin of the fore tibia at its basal third, reduced anteromarginal setae, and eight or more 

 pairs of metanotal setae. Oedymerous males have two femoral teeth instead of the single tooth 

 found on each femur of the females and minor males. One oedymerous male from Nigeria 

 has about sixteen pairs of metanotal setae. Pselaphothrips is similar to Acanthothrips and 

 Pristothrips. The praepectus is absent, the mesopraesternum reduced, there are three sense 

 cones on antennal III and four on IV, the mouth cone is very long, the pelta small, and there 

 are two or more pairs of tergal wing retaining setae. The Nigerian specimens referred to 

 above were taken at Ibadan, on Yam leaves, 7.vii.io64 (B. A. Okwakpam). 



Holotype $ of nigeriensis. Nigeria : Adio, 1926 (0. B. Lean). 



Rhaebothrips major Bagnall 



Rhaebothrips major Bagnall, 1928b : 75-76. 

 Rhaebothrips major Bagnall ; Bianchi, 1953 : 108. 



Bianchi has pointed out that records of this species from Hawaii and Fiji are mis- 

 identifications. Bagnall's original specimen(?s) are not in the British Museum 

 (Natural History), and the original data were : Samoa : Upolu, Apia, 17. ix. 1924. 



RHOPALOTHRIPOIDES Bagnall 



Rhopalothripoides Bagnall, i92gg : 174. Type-species Rhopalothrips brnnneus, by original 



designation. 

 Froggattothrips Bagnall, 1 92gg : 175. Type-species F. acaciae, by original designation. Syn. n. 



Head little longer than broad, slightly wider basally ; one pair of postocular setae, no ocelli. 

 Maxillary stylets arise close to eyes, parallel to each other in middle of head, separated by a 

 faint maxillary bridge ; mouth cone acute. Antennae eight-segmented, II narrowed to basal 

 neck ; VI broad at apex as in Cephalothrips ; VII and VIII broadly united, VII not strongly 

 constricted basally. Praepectus absent, mesopraesternum and basisterna degenerate. Fore 

 tarsus armed ; wings absent, ptero thorax reduced. Pelta four times as wide as long ; abdominal 

 tergites II to VII with conspicuous transverse row of twelve or more small setae ; B3 on tergite 

 IX long and fine, Bi and B2 short and expanded as are the other major setae. Sternite VIII 

 in male with a small circular glandular area near anterior margin. 



Froggattothrips was based on two males and two females, all of which have the 

 typical appearance of specimens starved or desiccated prior to their death. The 

 abdominal segments are telescoped into each other resulting in a broadly ovate 

 profile, and the mouth parts have been forced into the sternum of the prothorax 

 giving a rounded appearance to the mouth cone. Of the five nominal species 

 described by Bagnall in this group only two are here considered valid and these may 

 be separated as follows : 



