Distinguishing features

Both sexes apterous. Very similar to Physemothrips chrysodermus in body form and sculpture, but with antennal segment III more than 3.0 times as long as wide instead of only 2.5 times.

Related species

Antennal segment III longer than in chrysodermus, the only other member of this genus.

Biological data

Feeding on the leaves of native grasses (Poaceae).

Distribution data

Known only from the Northern subantarctic islands. Described from Big South Cape Island, New Zealand, and subsequently recorded from The Snares and Auckland Islands.

Family name

THRIPIDAE, THRIPINAE

Species name

Physemothrips hadrus Mound

Original name and synonyms

Physemothrips hadrus Mound, 1978: 617.

References

Mound LA. (1978) Five new species of Thripidae (Thysanoptera) endemic to New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 5: 615–222.

Mound LA & Walker AK (1982) Terebrantia (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna of New Zealand 1: 1–113.