OzThrips

Thysanoptera in Australia

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body mainly yellow with light brown markings, apex of tergite X brown; antennal segment I as pale as head, II–III shaded at least near apex, IV–VIII brown; fore wings pale with setae dark. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV with short forked sensorium. Head wider than long; vertex, including ocellar triangle, with sculpture lines; 3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III no longer than longitudinal diameter of an ocellus, arising between posterior margins of hind ocelli; 4 pairs of small postocular setae. Pronotum with transverse lines of sculpture, 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae; median posteromarginal setae slightly longer than remaining 3 pairs of posteromarginals. Mesonotal anterior campaniform sensilla present. Metanotum with sculpture irregular, forming elongate concentric area posteromedially; campaniform sensilla present; median setae at anterior margin. Mesofurca with spinula. Fore wing first and second veins with complete row of setae; clavus with 5–6 veinal and one discal setae. Tergites without craspeda; V–VII without ctenidia but with irregular microtrichia on lines of sculpture laterally; sculpture lines extend to median setae; VIII with paired ctenidia anterolateral to spiracle, posteromarginal comb of regular long microtrichia; tergite X long and slender, twice as long as IX. Sternites without discal setae; VII with setae S1 arising at margin.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; antennal segments I–II yellow in contrast to brown III–VIII; tergite VIII comb long and regular, median pair of setae on IX well-developed; sternites III–VII with small circular pore plate; sternite VIII posterior margin with several prominent microtrichia.

Related and similar species

Species of the genus Pseudanaphothrips share many character states with species of Frankliniella, but none of them have tergal ctenidia so well-formed. Currently the genus includes nine species, all but one from Australia. However, some of these are based on very few specimens, and these remain particularly difficult to distinguish (Mound & Palmer, 1981). P. aureolus is readily distinguished by the elongate tenth abdominal segment in females, and the small circular sternal pore plates in males.

Distribution data

General distribution

Known only from Australia.

Australian distribution

Victoria, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland.

Biological data

Life history

Feeding and breeding on young leaves.

Host plants

Cassinia quinquefariaC. longifoliaOmaranthusOlearia (Asteraceae).

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Pseudanaphothrips aureolus (Girault)

Original name and synonyms

  • Isochaetothrips melanurus Steele, 1940: 328
  • Physothrips aureolus Girault, 1928: 3

References

Mound LA. 2002. The Thrips and Frankliniella genus groups: the phylogenetic significance of ctenidia. Pp. 379-386 in Marullo R & Mound LA [eds] Thrips and Tospoviruses: Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Thysanoptera. Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra.

Oz thrips taxa