MELANTHRIPIDAE Bagnall, 1913

Rasool, Iftekhar, Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Aldhafer, Hathal M., 2023, Faunistic inventory, identification keys and zoogeographical analysis of the Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of Saudi Arabia, including two new species, Zootaxa 5306 (2), pp. 151-200 : 160

MELANTHRIPIDAE Bagnall

The family Melanthripidae encompasses 67 species in 4 genera and represents hardly 1% of described thrips species. In Arabian Peninsula, one species Melanthrips fuscus was previously known from UAE (zur Strassen & van Harten 2008). The family is new to Saudi Arabia representing two genera and species. Members of Melanthripidae can be recognized by: antennae 9-segmented with distal segments not united but almost moniliform; antennal segments III–IV with transverse to oblique sensorium at apex; wings broad and rounded at apex; ovipositor turned upwards or straight male sternite VII with a pair of lobes on posterior margin.