Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Mainly yellow; abdominal segment X dark brown; antennal segments I–III yellow, IV weakly shaded, V–VIII light brown; fore wing including clavus very weakly shaded, apex pale. Antennae 8-segmented, I with no dorso-apical setae, sensoria on III–IV simple. Head broadest across eyes, cheeks straight, converging to base, anterior margin projecting conically in front of eyes; compound eyes with 5 pigmented facets; ocellar setae pair I far apart; III arising between mid-points of posterior ocelli; maxillary palps 2-segmented. Pronotum weakly trapezoidal, posterior margin with 4 pairs of setae, 2 pairs of sub-equal posteroangular setae. Prosternal basantra granulate with about 4 pairs of setae; fernal plates scarcely connected medially; meso and meta furca without spinula. Mesonotal anterior campaniform sensilla present, median pair of setae distant from posterior margin. Metanotum medially with irregular sculpture; median setae just behind anterior margin; no campaniform sensilla. Fore wing slender, first vein with 6–8 setae on basal half, 3 widely spaced setae distally; second vein with about 5 widely spaced setae; clavus with 4 or 5 veinal setae, no discal seta; posterior fringe wavy. Tergal sculpture weak but complete medially; II–VIII with broad craspedum, campaniform sensilla close to posterior margin; tergites V–VIII with few microtrichia laterally; setal pair S2 on VIII no longer than S1; tergite IX longer than X, with median dorsal setae extending to posterior margin, no longer than posterior median setae; X with complete split. Sternites with no marginal crapsedum; II with about 6 discal setae, 3 pairs of marginal setae; III–VII with irregular row of about 10–15 discal setae; VI with small oval pore plate on antecostal area; VII with major setae all at margin.

Male macroptera. Similar to but smaller than female, apex of abdomen yellow; tergite IX dorsal setae small and slender; sternite II with 2 discal and 3 pairs of marginal setae, V–VI with broad pore plate on antecostal area.

Related and similar species

The genus Masimithrips comprises six species, all from northern Australia. These share most character states with the species of Monothrips, but have only two maxillary palp segments and lack sternal craspeda. Aliceathrips species lack setae on the prosternal basantra, and have the head different in shape, and the species of Caprithrips are all wingless and have no long pronotal setae. Females of masamii are unique within the genus in having a pore plate near the anterior margin of the sixth sternite. Most other members of the genus have only two pairs of marginal setae on the second abdominal sternite, and the median dorsal setae on tergite IX long and often stout.

Distribution data

General distribution

Known only from Australia.

Australian distribution

Western Australia.

Biological data

Life History

Feeding and breeding on leaves

Host plants

Triodia sp. (Poaceae).

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Masamithrips masamii Mound

Original name and synonyms

• Masamithrips masamii Mound, 2011: 23

References

Mound LA. 2011. Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia. Zootaxa 3064: 1–40. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt03064p040.pdf