Leucothrips nigripennis Reuter

(Figs 2, 14–16)

Leucothrips nigripennis Reuter, 1905: 108 .

This species was described from Finland and is recorded in Europe and North America (Morison 1957), but Bhatti (1998) recorded it from India with a detailed redescription and account of its habitat. Subsequently, Mound (1999) recorded the species from Australia with descriptions of male and larva II. It is easily distinguished from the other four species by the white body with dark fore wings. It is recorded as a pest of ferns in greenhouses (Morison 1957), and has caused problems to cultivated ferns in Australia but is not usually regarded as a serious pest (Mound 1999). The male is recorded only from Australia. This thrips is here newly recorded from Japan.

Diagnosis. Body including legs uniformly white, fore wing dark brown (Fig. 2); antennal segments III and IV with forked sensoria (Fig. 15); sculpture on pronotum, meso- and metanota with narrow fringe (Figs 14, 16). Male very similar to female but sensoria on antennal segments III and IV simple.

Specimens examined. JAPAN: Honshu: Kanagawa Pref., Yokohama City, Tomioka-sogokoen park, 3 females on fern, 10.ix.2005, M. Masumoto (TUA).