Distinguishing features

Female aptera. Body and legs yellow, antennal segments VI–VIII pale brown. Antennae 8-segmented; segment I without dorsoapical setae; III–IV with small simple sense cone. Head projecting in front of eyes; ocelli not developed; 3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III close to compound eyes. Maxillary palps 2-segmented. Pronotum wider at posterior than anterior, without long posteroangular setae. Mesonotal-metanotal transverse suture incomplete medially; metanotal campaniform sensilla absent. Prosternal ferna oval, basnatra with 2 pairs of setae. Tergites I–VIII with almost smooth craspedum; tergite IX medio-dorsal setae extend beyond posterior margin of tergite. Sternites III–VII with about 6 small discal setae close to posterior margin; craspedum broadly lobed between marginal setae, absent medially on VII.
Male not known.

Related species

The genus Caprithrips includes 6 species, from various parts of the world. They are all wingless grass-lliving species, and a key to these is provided by Bhatti (1980). C. orientalis has 8-segmented antennae, but unlike C. moundi the sternites have broadly lobed craspeda on their posterior margins.

Biological data

Feeding and breeding on the leaves of grasses [Poaceae].

Distribution data

Described from India, and recorded from Fiji, New Caledonia and Australia, Queensland.

Family name

THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE

Species name

Caprithrips orientalis Bhatti

Original name and synonyms

Caprithrips orientalis Bhatti, 1973: 478.

References

Bhatti JS (1980) Revision of the genus Caprithrips with descriptions of two new species from India and Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 28: 161–171.

Mound LA & Tree DJ (2007) Oriental and Pacific Thripidae (Thysanoptera) new to Australia, with a new species of Pseudodendrothrips Schmutz. Australian Entomologist 34: 7–14.