Abstract.The old‐world genusApelaunothripsKarny is redefined with descriptions of ten new species. A key is provided to the nineteen species of the genus:armatussp.n.;bhowalii(Ananthakrishnan) comb.n.;bicolorsp.n.;consimilis(Ananthakrishnan)comb.n.;femoralissp n.;gabonensis(Bournier) comb.n.;indicus(Ananthakrishnan);japonicussp.n.;leios(Mound);lienisp.n.;luridussp.n.;maculipennis(Okajima) combji.;malayensissp. n.;medioflavus(Karny);montanussp. n.;nigripennissp. n.;ocularissp.n.;tasmaniMound;tricolor(Priesner). One species,madrasensis, is removed from the genus toDexiothripsHart wi