Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown, fore wings weakly shaded. Antennae 8-segmented, II with external margin hook-shaped with sensorium at apex; III–IV with stout simple sensorium. Head scarcely prolonged in front of eyes; 3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III on anterior margins of triangle. Pronotum trapezoidal, 2 pairs of posteroangular setae. Metanotum irregularly reticulate, median setal pair longer than lateral pair. Prosternal ferna divided medially; basantra rugose, triangular; prospinasternum transverse, narrow. Mesothoracic sternopleural sutures complete; meta pre-episternum reduced, triangular, not broadly band-like. Meso and metasternal furca with well-developed lateral flanges, without spinula. Fore wing pointed at apex, first vein with 2–3 setae on distal half, second vein with 5–6 setae. Tergites with weak lines of sculpture medially, posterior margins with lobed craspedum; ovipositor moderately developed and bearing rows of teeth. Sternites with 3 pairs of marginal setae; posterior margins with craspedum of small pointed lobes.

Male macroptera. Similar to female; tergal sculpture stronger; sternites III–VII with large circular pore plate

Related and similar species

zur Strassen (1960) provided identification keys to over 50 species of Chirothrips, but Bhatti (1990) created six new genera for species placed originally in this genus. One of these six,Arorathrips, is represented in Australia. Chirothrips appears to be a genus of Holarctic species, whereas Arorathrips is from the New World. C. ah is a member of a group of African species in which antennal segment II is drawn out into a point with a rounded sensory area at the apex.

Distribution data

General distribution

South Africa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Australia.

Australian distribution

Queensland, northern New South Wales.

Biological data

Life history

Breeding and pupating within individual florets of Poaceae.

Host plants

Various Poaceae species with no recorded specificity.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Chirothrips ah Girault

Original name and synonyms

• Chirothrips ah Girault, 1929: 1
• Chirothrips hoodi Jacot-Guillarmod, 1941: 80

References

Mound LA & Palmer JM. 1972. Grass-flower infesting thrips of the genus Chirothrips Haliday in Australia. Journal of the Australian entomological Society 11: 332-339.