Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown, tarsi and fore tibiae paler; antennal segments III–V and basal half of VI yellow; fore wings light brown. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV with short forked sensorium. Head wider than long, without sculpture between eyes; 3 pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III slightly longer than distance between hind ocelli, arising just anterior to these ocelli; postocular setae small and close to posterior margin of eyes. Pronotum with transverse lines of sculpture, 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae; posterior margin with 4 pairs of setae. Metanotum weakly reticulate with posterior reticles forming distinctive arch at posterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent, median setae arising at anterior margin. Mesofurca with spinula. Fore wing first vein with 1 seta medially and 2–4 setae closer to apex; second vein with complete row of about 12 setae. Tergites III–VII with no sculpture medially; VIII with few scattered microtrichia anterior to spiracle, but no ctenidia, posteromarginal comb absent medially but with short microtrichia laterally; tergite X with complete longitudinal split. Sternites without discal setae, setae S1 on sternite VII arising in front of margin.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; sternites III–VII with large oval pore plate occupying half of length of each sternite.

Related and similar species

The genus Tenothrips currently includes a total of 13 species, mainly from the Mediterranean area. This genus should not be confused with Taeniothrips, in which the species all lack ocellar setae pair I in front of the first ocellus on the head. Apparently closely related is the North American genus, Ewartithrips (see Hoddle et al., 2008).

Distribution data

General distribution

Southern Europe, Western USA, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Hawaii, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia.

Australian distribution

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

Biological data

Life history

Feeding and breeding in flowers.

Host plants

Various Asteraceae; in Australia particularly on non-native weedy species such as Hieraceum, but apparently not on Taraxacum.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Tenothrips frici (Uzel)

Original name and synonyms

• Physopus frici Uzel, 1895: 126
• Euthrips dalmatica Karny, 1907: 45
• Euthrips pallidicornis Karny, 1907: 45
• Physothrips brevicornis Bagnall, 1916: 220
• Physothrips blacki Watson, 1919: 32
• Taeniothrips alba Priesner, 1926: 291
• Taeniothrips pallidivestis Priesner, 1926: 291
• Taeniothrips adusta Knechtel, 1945: 457
• Taeniothrips fulva Knechtel, 1945: 457
• Taeniothrips persimilis Priesner, 1954: 51
• Taeniothrips cibiniensis Knechtel, 1965: 133
• Taeniothrips (Tenothrips) alis Bhatti, 1967: 18

References

Hoddle MS, Mound LA & Paris D. 2008. Thrips of California. Cd-rom published by CBIT, Brisbane.