OzThrips

Thysanoptera in Australia

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body yellow, antennal segment VI brown in apical two-thirds; fore wings pale with brown area at base and medially, also weakly shaded sub-apically. Antennae 8-segmented; segments VII–VIII slender, III–IV with slender forked sensorium. Head as wide as long, with 2 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III on anterior margins of ocellar triangle. Pronotum without sculpture, with 2 pairs of short posteroangular setae, 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae. Metanotum with transverse lines of sculpture, median pair of setae near centre of sclerite. Meso and metafurca without spinula. Fore wing slender, first vein with 3 setae on distal half, second vein with 4 setae. Tergites with about 6 transverse lines of sculpture medially, posterior margins with craspedum no longer than width of one setal base. Sternites without a craspedum, with 3 pairs of marginal setae, median pair on VII arising at margin.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; tergite IX with 2 pairs of stout thorn-like setae between which is a double row of small tubercles; sternites without pore plates

Related and similar species

Ten species are included in the genus Danothrips, all from the Oriental region. These species are similar in structure to those of Chaetanaphothrips, but do not have an area of specialised sculpture extending anteromedially from the spiracles on tergite VIII.

Distribution data

General distribution

Hawaii, Florida and Caribbean, Sumatra, Australia.

Australian distribution

Southeast Queensland; Torres Straits Is.

Biological data

Life history

Feeding on leaves and young fruit.

Host plants

Anthurium sp (Araceae), Citrus paradisi (Rutaceae), Musa sp (Musaceae).

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Danothrips trifasciatus Sakimura

Original name and synonyms

  • Danothrips trifasciatus Sakimura, 1975: 125

References

Mound LA & Tree DJ. 2007. Oriental and Pacific Thripidae (Thysanoptera) new to Australia, with a new species of Pseudodendrothrips Schmutz. Australian Entomologist 34: 7-14.

Oz thrips taxa