Distinguishing features

Female macropterous. Body and legs brown; antennal segment III variably brownish yellow to yellow, IV–IX brown; fore wing pale at base but clavus dark, posterior margin dark with transverse dark area medially, apex pale but with at least posterior part of ring vein dark and shading sometimes extending onto posterior part of wing apex.
Head with postocular region as long as eye length; distal maxillary palp segment not subdivided. Antennae 9-segmented, sensorium on III short and straight, on IV with apex slightly curved, not extending to mid-point of segment, without internal markings. Mesonotum with one pair of setae medially. Metanotum with close striations arcuate around anterior mid-point. Abdominal tergite I with faint transverse lines medially; trichobothria on X minute. Sternites with 3 pairs of marginal setae, 1 or 2 pairs of discal setae laterally but none medially.
Male not known.

Related species

The genus Lamprothrips includes only a single species. This is distinguished from Gelothrips on rather small differences in structure, and the relationships between these taxa, including two species from Argentina, require further study.

Biological data

Presumably breeding in flowers. Currently, there is no evidence that the species is associated with Poaceae, in contrast to Gelothrips cinctus.

Distribution data

Known only from Australia, although there is one female from Java in the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt, that may represent this species. Only a few specimens have been studied. Despite differences between these they are currently interpreted as a single species that is widespread across Australia but rarely collected: three females from Perth, one from Canberra, one form Carnavon Station in Central Queensland, and five from southeastern Queensland.

Family name

AEOLOTHRIPIDAE

Species name

Lamprothrips miltoni (Girault)

Original name and synonyms

Desmothrips miltoni Girault, 1927: 1
Lamprothrips maculosus Moulton, 1935: 97

References

Mound LA & Marullo R (1998) Biology and identification of Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera) in Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 12: 929–950.