Minaeithrips

Mound, Laurence A., 2007, New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 1604, pp. 53-68 : 60

Minaeithrips gen n

Apterous Idolothripinae , Allothripina. Antennae 8-segmented, VII–VIII closely joined, VII sharply constricted to basal neck ( Figs 16, 17 ); segment III with either 2 or no sensoria, IV with 2 sensoria. Head about as wide as long, eyes not large ( Figs 11, 13 ); maxillary stylets wide apart, retracted to postocular setae; mouth cone broadly rounded, maxillary palps with terminal sensorium large. Pronotum weakly sclerotised, epimeral sutures sometimes incomplete; anteromarginal and midlateral setae minute, remaining three pairs of major setae small. Fore tarsal tooth absent in both sexes. Prosternal basantra absent or faintly indicated; mesopraesternum and mesoeusternum anterior margin strongly eroded, metathoracic sternopleural sutures broad. Metanotum transverse, without sculpture, median setae small. Pelta extending almost full width of tergite II; tergite II lateral margins strongly eroded; tergal setae small or minute; tergite IX setae S1 shorter than tube; female with fustis scarcely longer than width, almost circular; tube much shorter than head, anal setae about as long as tube ( Figs 12, 14 ); sternites with a few minute discal setae, marginal setae small.

Type-species. Minaeithrips aliceae sp.n.

Relationships. The two species placed in this new genus invoke the typical problems associated with systematic studies on apterous Phlaeothripidae , in that most of the characteristic features they have in common are “loss apomorphies”. On the basis of the large sensorium on the maxillary palps they are members of the Allothripina but, as indicated in the key below, the differences between them are considerable. Unlike several other members of the Allothripina, the males do not have a fore tarsal tooth.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 18. Minaeithrips and Priesneriella. 11, M. aliceae head; 12, M. aliceae, Tergite IX and tube; 13, M. driesseni, Head; 14, M. driesseni, Tergite IX and tube; 15, M. driesseni, Prosternites; 16, M. aliceae, Antenna; 17, M. driess-