Distinguishing features

Both sexes apterous. Female pale brown; antennal segments I and II yellow, III–V darker, VI–VIII brown; tarsi, tibiae, and middle and hind femora yellow; fore femora darker basally; tube paler at apex; major setae brown. Head with compound eyes prolonged ventrally, cheeks extend around eyes laterally; ocelli absent; postocular setae long, acute; 1 pair of small setae on vertex; maxillary stylets about one-seventh of head width apart, retracted to postocular setae. Antennal segment III smaller than II or IV; segments VII and VIII closely joined but with suture complete; segment III with 1 sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotum transverse, lacking sculpture; epimeral sutures incomplete; major setae blunt to acute; basantra almost absent. Mesonotum transverse, lacking lateral setae; metanotum transverse, lacking sculpture, with a pair of small pores medially that usually lack setae. Mesopresternum almost totally eroded; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Fore tarsal tooth hooked-shaped, minute, arising distally. Pelta reduced to an irregular subcircular sclerite; sternites without a continuous line of discal setae; tergites V–VIII each bearing a median pair of exceptionally long, finely acute setae posterolateral to median pores; tergites II–VII each with 1 pair of minute wing-retaining setae; tergite IX posteromarginal setae S1 longer than tube, finely acute.
Male similar to female; sternite VIII with no pore plate; tergite IX posteromarginal setae S2 as long as S1.

Related species

The genus Lissothrips comprises 23 species, of which 12 are known only from the Americas, one from Fiji, one from Japan, eight from Australia, and three from New Zealand (of which two are shared with Australia). L. dugdalei is one of the most completely apterous species in Lissothrips. The pterothorax is exceptionally reduced, as is the pelta. The terminal pair of antennal segments are closely joined, and the basantra and mesopresternum are almost completely lost. Some of the tergites bear a pair of long setae medially, and the fore tarsus bears a minute recurved tooth distally, just basal to the pretarsus.

Biological data

Adults and larvae are apparently associated with lichen on twigs.

Distribution data

Known only from New Zealand (BR, FD).

Family name

PHLAEOTHRIPIDAE, PHLAEOTHRIPINAE

Species name

Lissothrips dugdalei Mound & Walker

Original name and synonyms

Lissothrips dugdalei Mound & Walker, 1986: 67

References

Mound LA & Tree DJ (2015) The genus Lissothrips from mosses and lichens in Australia and New Zealand (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) Zootaxa 3946 (3): 361–373.

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