Distinguishing features

Both sexes fully winged. Female brown with small, yellow markings laterally on abdominal segments II–VII; hind femora yellow at base, tibiae variable; antennal segments III–VI with long, yellow pedicels; major setae pale; fore wings shaded, with a dark median line. Head long, projecting in front of eyes, and with cheeks constricted behind eyes. Antennae more than twice as long as head. Pronotal epimeral sutures complete; basantra present. Mesopresternum broadly boat-shaped. Metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent; metanotum reticulate, median setae small. Fore tarsal tooth absent. Fore wing broad, with many duplicated cilia. Pelta broadly trilobed; tergites each with more than 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tube longer than head.
Male similar to female, but tergites II–VIII each with a pair of long lateral tubercles terminating in either a short, stout seta or a long, slender seta (varying with body size); dorsal pair of setae on tergite IX very short and stout.

Related species

Only two species are recognised in this genus, both from Australia where spectrum is widespread across the continent, with a second species in eastern Queensland.

Biological data

Breeding only on dead leaves of various Eucalyptus species where it presumably feeds on fungal spores.

Distribution data

The New Zealand record of the Australian Giant Thrips is based on a single specimen in a Malaise trap (AK). This species is common and often abundant across the southern half of Australia from Sydney to Perth.

Family name

PHLAEOTHRIPIDAE, IDOLOTHRIPINAE

Species name

Idolothrips spectrum Haliday

Original name and synonyms

Idolothrips spectrum Haliday in Walker, 1852: 1097.
Idolothrips marginata Haliday in Walker, 1852: 1097.
Idolothrips lacertina Haliday in Walker, 1852: 1097.
Idolothrips marginatus f. invalida Priesner, 1928: 654.
Idolothrips lacertinus f. infirma Priesner, 1928: 654.
Idolothrips terrigena Girault, 1928: 2.
Idolothrips fasciatipennis Girault, 1930: 1.
Idolothrips kellyanus Bagnall, 1932: 518.

References

Mound LA & Palmer JM (1983) The generic and tribal classification of spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 1–174.

Mound LA & Walker AK (1986) Tubulifera (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna of New Zealand 10: 1–140.