Key to Liothrips species of Australia

(Excluding the nomen dubium Liothrips brevifemur Girault)

1. Postocular setae not developed (Fig. 4) [mid and hind tibiae yellow with brown on basal third (Fig. 33); metanotum with very closely spaced longitudinal striae; mesopresternum transverse and complete] [in leaf galls on Timonius]....... timonii sp.n.

-. Postocular setae well-developed and long.................................................................. 2

2. Mid and hind tibiae yellow, with no more than weak shading near base [metanotum with very closely spaced longitudinal striae (Fig. 20); mesopresternum transverse and complete] [in leaf galls on Piper spp]............................... pallipes

-. Mid and hind tibiae brown, or bicoloured with up to distal half yellow........................................... 3

3. Maxillary stylets retracted to eyes or to postocular setae, close together medially in head their separation 0.1–0.2 of head width (Figs 5, 6)........................................................................................... 4

-. Maxillary stylets not retracted to postocular setae, their separation at least 0.25 of head width (Figs 1–3)................ 5

4. All tarsi yellow, mid and hind tibiae yellow on distal fifth or more; pronotal major setae dark brown; fore wing extensively shaded brown with dark median longitudinal line, sharply paler sub-basally; metanotal sculpture narrowly reticulate to almost striate (Fig. 25); mouth cone not extending beyond prosternal ferna [on bulbs of Lilium]...................... vaneeckei

-. Mid and hind tarsi brown, mid and hind tibiae uniformly brown; pronotal major setae pale to weakly shaded; fore wing pale or weakly shaded; metanotal sculpture broadly reticulate (Fig. 24); mouth cone pointed, extending beyond prosternal ferna (on Miconia crenata)................................................................................. urichi

5. Tergite II close to lateral margin with irregular row of 8–12 discal setae in female (Fig. 32), fewer in male [leaf gall invader on Ficus spp.]................................................................................... takahashii

-. Tergite II close to lateral margin with irregular row of 3–7 discal setae in female, sometimes none in male (Figs 33–35).... 6

6. Antennal segments III–VI evenly and increasingly light brown, not paler at their bases (Fig. 10); antennal segments V–VI sharply constricted to basal neck; mouth cone long and pointed; with 2 pairs of epimeral setae [head slightly longer than tube] [leaves of Mallotus philippinensis]............................................................. burwelli sp.n.

-. Antennal segments III–VI largely yellow but with apices increasingly shaded; antennal segments V–VI evenly narrowing to basal neck; mouth cone rounded; with one pair of epimeral setae............................................... 7

7. Fore tibiae clear yellow; antennal segment VI entirely yellow; metanotal reticles narrow, almost striate (Fig. 17) [in leaf galls on Piper spp].................................................................................. chavicae

- Fore tibiae shaded more or less; antennal segment VI brown on apical half; metanotal reticles relatively broad but longer than wide (Figs 18, 23)..................................................................................... 8

8. Metanotal median pair of setae well-developed, about as long as mesonotal lateral pair of setae (Fig. 23); tergite IX setae as long or longer than tube; pronotal am setae well-developed, 0.5 as long as epimeral setae (Fig. 9) [leaves of rainforest tree]............................................................................................... umbratus

-. Metanotal median pair of setae minute, much smaller than mesonotal lateral pair of setae (Fig. 18); tergite IX setae S1 shorter than tube; pronotal am setae usually minute, less than 0.2 as long as epimeral setae (Fig. 29) [leaves of Chionanthus]............................................................................................. chionanthes sp.n.