Distinguishing features

Female macropterous. Body and legs brown, fore tarsi and apex of fore tibiae paler; antennal segment III yellow, usually shaded brown only near extreme apex, IV–IX brown; fore wing brown at extreme base but clavus apparently clear, median brown area continuous along posterior margin of distal pale area which is thus usually not transverse, 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, without internal markings. Mesonotum with 3 or 4 pairs of accessory setae medially. Metanotal reticles with internal dot-like markings. Abdominal tergite I with transverse reticulate lines anteromedially; trichobothria on X no larger than base of major setae on X. Sternites with 4 pairs of marginal setae, about 8 pairs of discal setae mainly laterally but also sometimes medially, including medially on VII.
Male similar to female but smaller, antennal segment III more extensively shaded. Abdominal tergite I with two longitudinal ridges. Sternites with discal setae in transverse row, in two irregular transverse rows on IX.

Related species

The genus Desmothrips is known only from Australia, with 18 described species (Pereyra & Mound, 2010). D. propinquus is a member of the D. australis complex. It is similar in appearance to D. bagnalli in having the costal vein dark around the forewing distal pale area, but it lacks discoidal markings within the antennal sensoria.

Biological data

Collected from a wide variety of flowers in different families, but possibly also predatory on other thrips in flowers.

Distribution data

This is the most widespread and abundant species in the genus, having been taken widely in all States and Territories, including Tasmania.

Family name

AEOLOTHRIPIDAE

Species name

Desmothrips propinquus (Bagnall)

Original name and synonyms

Orothrips propinquus Bagnall, 1916: 397
Desmothrips elegans Morison, 1931: 451

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.