Distinguishing features

Both sexes fully winged. Female brown, mid and hind tibiae with extreme apex yellow, tarsi yellow; antennal segments I–II brown, III yellow, IV–VIII increasingly brown; fore wings brown, slightly paler at posterior margin near base. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV each with short forked sense cone. Head slightly wider than long, with 3 pairs of ocellar setae; pair III arising between midpoint of hind ocelli; 4 pairs of short postocular setae. Pronotal disc with weak transverse reticulation, median discal setae scarcely long than width of two transverse reticulations; 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae, 2–3 pairs of posteromarginals. Mesonotum with paired anterior campaniform sensilla. Metanotum with 2 pairs of setae at anterior margin, median area reticulate, campaniform sensilla absent. Prosternal ferna complete; mesosternal furca with spinula, metasternal furca without spinula. Fore wing first vein with irregular row of about 15 setae, second vein with 6–10 irregularly spaced setae; clavus with one discal and 5 marginal setae. Tergites VI–VII with posteroangular setae arising mesad of the posterior angle; VI–VII with small ctenidia present laterally and terminating at median lateral seta; ctenidia on VIII slightly anterolateral to spiracles; VIII with no posteromarginal comb; tergite IX with paired campaniform sensilla on anterior third.
Male similar to female but smaller; tergite IX with median setae short and thorn-like; sternites III–VII with broad transverse pore plate.

Related species

The genus Parabaliothrips comprises six species, three from S.E. Asia, and three from Australia. The abdominal ctenidia terminate at the median lateral seta on tergites VI–VII, a more anterior position than in species of Frankliniella.

Biological data

This thrips has been found in Australia feeding on the leaves of various Epacridaceae, including species of Astroloma, Epacris, Leucopogon, and Monotoca.

Distribution data

Widespread in eastern Australia, this species is recorded widely in the mountains of South Island, New Zealand (BR, MB and CO).

Family name

THRIPIDAE, THRIPINAE

Species name

Parabaliothrips montanus (Girault)

Original name and synonyms

Physothrips montanus Girault, 1927: 1
Pseudanaphothrips annettae Mound & Palmer, 1981: 166

References

Gillespie PS, Mound LA & Ching-ling Wang (2002) Austro-oriental genus Parabaliothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) with a new Australian species forming male aggregations. Australian Journal of Entomology 41: 111–117.

Mound LA, Tree DC & Paris D (2012) OzThrips – Thysanoptera in Australia. http://www.ozthrips.org/

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