Introduction

There have been few studies on the thrips of New Zealand. Most of the information presented in this system is derived from two Fauna of New Zealand volumes (Mound & Walker 1982; 1986). However, much of the data in those two volumes was derived from limited amounts of field work, both in space and time. Particularly missing are biological studies on thrips species that are native to New Zealand, with many of these remaining known from very few specimens.

Only for some Thripidae have there been studies on biology and host-plant range. Teulon & Penman (1990) produced outstanding data on the diversity of plants on which Thrips obscuratus breeds. Martin & Mound (2004) explored the host associations of several species, and Martin (2017) provided good data on the host plants of Panchaetothripinae in New Zealand.

For the many species of fungus-feeding Phlaeothripidae there have been no studies on biology or behaviour, although the sexual dimorphism and male polyphenism many such species exhibit suggests the existence of competitive behaviours.