Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown, tarsi and antennal segment III paler; fore wings light brown with base paler. Antennae 8-segmented; segment I with paired dorso-apical setae; segments III–IV with apex forming short neck, sensorium forked; VI with base of sensorium very broadly expanded. Head wider than long; 3 pairs of ocellar setae present; pair III anterior to hind ocelli, shorter than side of ocellar triangle; postocular setae small, close to posterior margin of eyes. Pronotum with 1 pair of long posteroangular setae; posterior margin with 4–5 pairs of setae. Fore tibia with 2 recurved tubercles at apex, ventrally and laterally. Metanotum reticulate, campaniform sensilla present; median setae arise at anterior margin. Mesofurca with spinula. Fore wing first and second veins with complete row of setae; clavus with 6 veinal setae. Tergites without sculpture medially; VIII with group of irregular microtrichia anterior to spiracle, posteromarginal comb represented by a few microtrichia laterally. Sternites without discal setae, VII with median setae arising in front of margin.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; tergite IX with posterior margin eroded, bearing pair of elongate tubercles extending to abdominal apex; sternites without pore plates.

Related and similar species

Odontothripiella is an Australian genus that currently includes 18 described species, with several more undescribed species also known. The genus shares many character states withMegalurothrips, in particular the presence of a pair of small setae dorsally at the apical margin of the first antennal segment. O. australis females cannot be distinguished from females of several other species in this genus, but the males are readily distinguished by the paired elongate tubercles on the ninth tergite.

Distribution data

General distribution

Known only from Australia.

Australian distribution

Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland.

Biological data

Life History

Feeding and breeding in flowers.

Host plants

Various native and introduced Fabaceae, including Pultenaea, Bossiaea, Jacksonia, Genista, Lupinus; sometimes considered a minor pest on legume crops in Australia.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Odontothripiella australis (Bagnall)

Original name and synonyms

• Odontothrips australis Bagnall, 1918; 204
• Odontothripiella gracilis Bagnall, 1929: 48

References

Pitkin BR. 1972. A revision of the Australian genus Odontothripiella Bagnall, with descriptions of fourteen new species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 11: 265-289.