Genus Trichothyas K. Viets, 1926

Species of this genus are reported from many parts of the world, but mostly from tropical and subtropical areas. Within the genus, a high morphological uniformity is observed, and an interesting tendency to form intersexual specimens (Gerecke 1996). Possibly, larval parasitism on tipulomorph dipterans (Mitchell 1953) allows populations to keep gene flow over wide areas with their aerial drifting hosts.

In addition to Trichothyas s.s., four more subgenera are described, Lundbladia K. Viets, 1929, Kashmirothyas Lundblad, 1934, Plesiothyas K. Viets, 1935 and Neothyas Lundblad, 1941 . Three of these are represented in Africa: Trichothyas (s. str.) pennata K. Viets, 1913 (Cameroon), T. (Plesiothyas) multipora Walter, 1935 (Ivory Coast), and T. (Lundbladia) cunctans (Lundblad, 1951) (Tanzania, Kenya).