Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown, tarsi paler, antennal segment III yellow; fore wings light brown. Antennae 8-segmented; segment I with paired dorso-apical setae; segments III–IV with short forked sensorium; VI with base of sensorium oval. Head wider than long; 3 pairs of ocellar setae; pair III anterior to hind ocelli, about as long as side of ocellar triangle; postocular setae small, close to posterior margin of eyes. Pronotum with 1 pair of long posteroangular setae; posterior margin with 4–5 pairs of setae. Fore tibia with one recurved tubercle at apex ventrally; mid-tibia without a small claw at apex. Metanotum reticulate, campaniform sensilla present; median setae arise at anterior margin. Mesofurca with spinula. Fore wing first vein with setal row interrupted sub-basally and sub-apically; clavus with 5 veinal and one discal setae. Tergites with transverse sculpture medially; VIII with group of irregular microtrichia anterior to spiracle, posteromarginal comb represented by a few microtrichia laterally. Sternites without discal setae, VII with median setae arising in front of margin.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; sensorium larger on antennal segment VI; fore tibia with 2 recurved teeth at apex; mid-tibia with tooth at apex; tergite IX posterior margin with slender median process curving upwards, bifurcate at apex; sternites IV–V emarginate medially, without pore plates.

Related and similar species

Odontothripiella is an Australian genus that currently includes 18 described species, with several more undescribed species also known. The genus shares many character states withMegalurothrips, in particular the presence of a pair of small setae dorsally at the apical margin of the first antennal segment. O. andrewarthae is one of the species with the setal row discontinuous on the first vein of the forewing, and the males have a distinctive, upwardly curved, median process on the ninth tergite.

Distribution data

General distribution

Known only from Australia.

Australian distribution

Western Australia.

Biological data

Life History

Feeding and breeding in flowers.

Host plants

Probably some species of Fabaceae, but known only from adults taken on white Asteraceae.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Odontothripiella andrewarthae Pitkin

Original name and synonyms

• Odontothripiella andrewarthae Pitkin, 1972: 271

References

Pitkin BR. 1972. A revision of the Australian genus Odontothripiella Bagnall, with descriptions of fourteen new species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 11: 265-289.