Thrips australis (Bagnall)

Zhang, Hongrui, Xie, Yonghui & Li, Zhengyue, 2011, Identification key to species of Thrips genus from China (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), with seven new records, Zootaxa 2810, pp. 37-46 : 40-42

Thrips australis (Bagnall)

( Figs. 2, 9 , 16, 24 )

Isoneurothrips australis Bagnall, 1915: 592

Female (macropterous): Body variable in size and color, from large and generally brown to small and almost white; abdominal tergites II–VIII often yellow with brown markings medially, segment VIII–X brown. Antennal segment I white, III yellow, remaining segments largely brown; fore wings pale with dark setae, hind margin shaded. Antennae 7-segmented, segments III–IV slightly constricted at apex with short forked sensorium; segment VI bullet-shaped, VII short. Head wider than long; two pairs of ocellar setae; pair III arising just inside anterior margins of ocellar triangle, near fore ocellus; postocular setae pairs I & III as long as ocellar setae pair III ( Fig. 2 ). Pronotum with two pairs of short stout posteroangular setae; posterior margin with three pairs of setae. Metanotum reticulate medially; median setae arise behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla present ( Fig. 9 ). Fore wing with first vein setal row almost uninterrupted ( Fig. 24 ); clavus with six marginal setae. Abdominal tergite II with four lateral setae, the two anterior setae equal in length; tergite VIII posterior margin with comb not developed medially ( Fig. 16 ); pleurotergites commonly with more than five discal setae. Sternite II with two pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with three pairs. Sternites with many discal setae, three on sternite II but 15 to 40 on sternites III–VII, usually about 20 discal setae.

Male: Smaller and paler than female; abdominal tergite VIII with no comb; sternites III–VII with small transverse pore plate anterior to about 10 discal setae.

Specimens examined. China: Yunnan, 8 females, 1 male, on Michelia floribunda , 15.i.2009; Guangxi, 1 male, on Gossypium spp, 12.iii.2009.

Remarks. This flower-living species came originally from Australia but is now widespread around the world where Eucalyptus trees are grown, including Africa, southern Europe, as well as South and North America. This species is highly variable in size and color, from large and generally brown to small and almost white.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Thrips species. Head 1 – 7: (1) alatus; (2) australis; (3) carthami; (4) garuda; (5) obscuripes; (6) parvispinus; (7) subnudula. Meso- and metanotum 8 – 12: (8) alatus; (9) australis; (10) carthami; (11) garuda; (12) obscuripes.

FIGURES 13 – 25. Thrips species. Meso- and metanotum 13 – 14: (13) parvispinus; (14) subnudula. Abdominal tergite VIII 15 – 21: (15) alatus; (16) australis; (17) carthami; (18) garuda; (19) obscuripes; (20) parvispinus; (21) subnudula. Abdominal terga 22 – 23: (22) carthami; (23) garuda. Forewing 24 – 25: (24) australis; (25) parvispinus.