Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macropterous. Body and legs brown, abdomen paler medially, also fore tibiae paler; antennal segment III yellowish with apex weakly shaded, IV–IX brown; fore wing brown with two clear transverse bands, costal vein weakly shaded around distal pale area; clavus dark except at apex.

Head converging to anterior, postocular region shorter than eye length; distal maxillary palp segment subdivided. Antennae 9-segmented, segments unusually short; sensorium on III–IV curved around segment apex, extending to mid-point of segment with weak internal markings. Fore femora stout, external apical margin slightly recurved. Mesonotum with only 2 pairs of accessory setae medially. Metanotal reticles transverse at anterior, longer than wide medially, with faint internal dot-like or linear markings. Forewing slender, slightly narrowed near base. Abdominal tergite I with transverse lines medially; trichobothria on X slightly larger than base of major setae on X. Sternites with 4 pairs of marginal setae, several pairs of discal setae laterally; VII with no discal setae medially, 2 pairs of accessory setae situated in front of margin.

Male not known.

Related and similar species

The genus Desmothrips is known only from Australia, with 18 described species (Pereyra & Mound, 2010). D. chirus is unique among Aeolothripidae in the form of the fore femora, with the external apical margin slightly recurved as in species of the genus Chirothrips that breed in grass florets.

Distribution data

General distribution

Known only from Australia

Australian distribution

Known only from Darwin.

Biological data

Host plants

Collected on one occasion from an unidentifed grass.

Life history

Presumably breeding in the flowers of some species of Poaceae.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Desmothrips chirus Mound & Marullo

Original name and synonyms

Desmothrips chirus Mound & Marullo, 1998