Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macropterous; body brown, with yellowish markings on head, thorax and abdominal apex; antennal segments III-V and base of VI yellow; tarsi yellow, femora and tibiae variably brown; fore wing bicoloured, dark at base, and with two transverse brown bands, some veinal setae dark brown. Head with cheeks constricted behind eyes and at base. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with sensorium simple but curved, VI with base narrow. Pronotum with anterior angles slightly flattened and produced. Mesonotum with complete median longitudinal division. Metanotum reticulation elongate, triangle produced at posterior, median setae arising on poasterior half. Fore wing slender, first vein clearly fused to costa. Abdominal segment II strongly constricted, anterolaterally with numerous recurved claw-like microtrichia; tergites with transverse sculpture lines medially, VIII with broad craspedum; setae on IX about one third as long as tergite X; median split on X complete, one pair of apical setae with apices expanded.

Related and similar species

Only one species is placed in this genus. This is closely related to Astrothrips and several other monobasic genera including Anisopilothrips, but the setae on tergite X have expanded apices.

Distribution data

Seychelles Islands, Taiwan, Philippines, Pacific Islands, northern Australia (Darwin and Cairns)

Biological data

Host plants

Adults collected in low numbers from many different plants, including crops, but with few records of larvae.

Life history

Presumably breeding on leaves

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Elixothrips brevisetis (Bagnall)

Original name and synonyms

• Tryphactothrips brevisetis Bagnall, 1919
• Dinurothrips guamensis Moulton, 1942