OzThrips

Thysanoptera in Australia

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body, legs and antennae dark brown, tarsi paler; antennal segment III slightly paler at base; fore wings with three alternating light and dark bans, apex dark also base of clavus. Antennae 9-segmented, segments III–IV with apical sensorium incomplete; segment IX slightly shorter than VIII. Head with ocellar setae III apparently short; only two pairs of long postocular setae. Pronotum without strong sculpture lines, with about 6 pairs of discal setae; posterior angles with 2 pairs of long setae. Mesonotum with no microtrichia, lateral setae stout. Metanotum with concentric lines and microtrichia on anterior half. Fore wing veinal setae shorter on basal half of wing than toward apex. Fore tibial apex with two stout ventro-lateral setae Abdominal tergites I–VIII medially with weak sculpture lines and no microtrichia; tergite VIII median setae scarcely 0.5 as long as tergite, arising distant from posterior margin.

Male not known.

Related and similar species

Six species are currently described in the genus Dorythrips, two from Australia and four from South America (de Borbon, 2009). D. jenkinsi is remarkable within the genus because of the banded forewings, although it remains known from a single female.

Distribution data

Western Australia, near Albany

Biological data

Host plants

Known only from a single female specimen.

Life history

Presumably breeding in the flowers of its host.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Dorythrips jenkinsi Mound

Original name and synonyms

  • Dorythrips jenkinsi Mound, 1972

Oz thrips taxa