Key to Heliothrips species

(adapted from Nakahara et al., 2015 and Xie et al., 2019)

1. Metascutal triangle with posteromarginal flange absent or not reaching anterior margin of metascutellum; campaniform sensilla on tergite I on reticulate area (Fig. 76)................................................................. similis

-. Metascutal triangle with posteromarginal flange extending over anterior margin of metascutellum; campaniform sensilla on tergite I anterior to reticulate area (Figs 74, 75).............................................................. 2

2. Femora dark brown, in contrast to yellow tibiae (Fig. 24); ventral sense cone on antennal segment IV about 0.75 times as long as segment (Fig. 44)............................................................................... zucchi

-. Femora yellow (Figs 19–23); ventral sense cone on antennal segment IV about 0.45 times as long as segment............ 3

3. External sense cone on antennal segment IV not reaching medial area of segment VI; antennal segments IV and V constricted basally (Fig. 41); mesonotum with polygonal reticles (Fig. 74); abdominal tergites VII–X golden yellow with apex of X brown (Fig. 107); males with oval pore plates on sternites III–VII (Fig. 115)................................ haemorrhoidalis

-. External sense cone on antennal segment IV reaching medial area of segment VI; antennal segments IV and V not constricted basally (Fig. 42); mesonotum with transverse reticles (Fig. 75); abdominal tergites VII–X brown (Fig. 108); males with transverse pore plates on sternites III–VII (Fig. 116)................................................... longisensibilis