Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macropterous. Body and legs brown, fore tarsi and fore tibiae paler; antennal segment III yellow with extreme apex sometimes slightly brown, IV yellow in basal half, VI–IX brown; fore wing apparently without brown marking at base, median brown area shorter than wing width, costal vein shaded around distal pale area, apex brown.

Head with postocular region as long as eye length; distal maxillary palp segment subdivided. Antennae 9-segmented, sensorium on segments III–IV with weak internal markings, extending to mid-point of segment; V–VI with sensorium base elongate. Pronotal surface with closely spaced sculpture lines bearing many microtrichia. Mesonotum with up to 5 pairs of accessory setae medially. Metanotum with equiangular reticles medially, with internal dot-like markings. Abdominal tergite I with widely spaced transverse reticulation; trichobothria on X no larger than base of major setae on X. Sternites covered with narrow transverse reticulate lines bearing microtrichia, usually with 4 pairs of marginal setae, III–VI with irregular transverse row of 8 to 13 discal setae, incomplete medially on VII.

Male similar to female but smaller, antennal segment IV darker; antennal sensoria slightly shorter. Abdominal tergite I with two longitudinal ridges. Sternites with 4 pairs of marginal setae, about 6–10 discal setae in irregular transverse row medially; sternite IX with 4–6 discal setae.

Related and similar species

The genus Desmothrips is known only from Australia, with 18 described species (Pereyra & Mound, 2010). Similar to D. bagnalli in the antennal sensoria and chaetotaxy of sternite VII, D. broomei is unusual for the small size of the forewing dark marking medially and the apparent absence of a basal dark area.

Distribution data

General distribution

Known  only from Australia

Australian distribution

Known only from near Broome in Western Australia

Biological data

Host plants

Found in the flowers of Acacia eriopoda (Mimosaceae) and Trichodesma zeylanicum (Boraginaceae). .

Life history

This species was found to be abundant in flowers at the site where it was collected.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Desmothrips broomei Pereyra & Mound

Original name and synonyms

Desmothrips broomei Pereyra & Mound, 2010