Distinguishing features

Female macropterous. Body and legs brown, fore tarsi and apex of fore tibiae paler; antennal segment III yellow in basal half or two-thirds but brown distally, IV–IX brown; fore wing brown at extreme base including entire clavus, median brown area long, continuous along posterior margin, distal clear area not transverse, with costal vein dark.
Head with postocular region as long as eye length; distal maxillary palp segment subdivided. Antennae 9-segmented, III–IV with sensorium curving around apex, weakly sinuous and extending to basal third of segment, with prominent discoidal internal markings. Mesonotum with 2 pairs of accessory setae medially. Metanotal reticles with internal dot-like markings. Abdominal tergite I transverse lines antero-medially; trichobothria on X no larger than base of major setae on X. Sternites with 4 pairs of marginal setae, 4 to 7 pairs of discal setae laterally but none medially; sternite VII two pairs of accessory setae not distinguished from marginal setae.
Male similar to female but smaller, antennal segment III more extensively shaded. Maxillary palp distal segment with only one small subdivision. Antennal sensoria internal markings weak. Abdominal tergite I with two longitudinal ridges. Sternites with few discal setae, arising laterally, IX with only one or two discal setae.

Related species

The genus Desmothrips is known only from Australia, with 18 described species (Pereyra & Mound, 2010). D. bagnalli is closely related to D. australis and D. propinquus, but has distinct discoidal marking within the linear sensoria on antennal segments III and IV.

Biological data

Adults have been found in low numbers in various flowers, with no recognisable specificity.

Distribution data

Apparently most common in southeastern Queensland, but this species has also been taken frequently in Spring from the flowers of Acacia covenyi at CSIRO, Black Mt., Canberra. It is not known from Western Australia.

Family name

AEOLOTHRIPIDAE

Species name

Desmothrips bagnalli Karny

Original name and synonyms

Desmothrips bagnalli Karny, 1920: 36
Orothrips unguttipennis Girault, 1926: 18
Desmothrips comparabilis Priesner, 1928: 643

References

Mound LA (1967) A taxonomic revision of the Australian Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 20: 41–74.

Pereyra V & Mound LA (2010) Phylogenetic relationships within the genus Desmothrips (Thysanoptera, Aeolothripidae), an Australian genus of facultative flower-living predators. Systematic Entomology 35: 306–317.