Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown, tarsi paler, antennal segment III light brown with pedicel yellow; fore wings light brown. Antennae 8-segmented; III with external margin produced into a tooth, sense cone simple; sense cone forked on segment IV. Head longer than wide, distinctly projecting in front of eyes; with 2–3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III anterolateral to ocellar triangle, scarcely longer than distance between two ocelli; postocular setae small. Pronotum with 1 pair of long posteroangular setae, posterior margin with 3 pairs of setae. Metanotum reticulate, campaniform sensilla present, median setae arise behind anterior margin. Meso- and metafurca without spinula. Fore wing first vein with 2 setae on distal half, second vein with about 10 setae. Tergites reticulate medially, paired campaniform sensilla close to posterior margin, craspedum not developed; tergite IX with 1 pair of stout thorn-like setae. Sternites II–VII with 10–16 discal setae, without craspeda.
Male aptera. Head without ocelli; pterothorax transverse without wing buds; tergite IX with 2 pairs of small stout setae on tubercles, 1 pair medially, 1 longer pair laterally; sternites without pore plates.

Related species

Females of the genus Limothrips are characterised by the presence of a pair of unusually stout setae on the ninth tergite. Eight species are listed in this European genus, although two are of doubtful validity. Three species are now widespread around the world in temperate areas, and all three have been found in southern areas of Australia with L. cerealium the most common. L. denticornis is recognisable by the external margin of antennal segment III being strongly prolonged laterally.

Biological data

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

Distribution data

Widespread in Europe, also found in North America and Australia (South Australia).

Family name

THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE

Species name

Limothrips denticornis (Haliday)

Original name and synonyms

Thrips (Limothrips) denticornis Haliday, 1836: 445
Thrips kollari Heeger, 1852: 484
Thrips (Limothrips) bidens Reuter, 1879: 212
Thrips secalina Lindeman, 1887: 301
Limothrips adustus Priesner, 1920: 52
Limothrips incertis Bagnall, 1926: 642.

References

Mound L, Collins D & Hastings A (2019) Thysanoptera Britannica et Hibernica. A guide to British thrips. Lucidcentral.org, Identic Pty Ltd, Queensland, Australia. https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/british_thrips/

zur Strassen R (2003) Die terebranten Thysanopteren Europas und des Mittelmeer-Gebietes. Die Tierwelt Deutschlands 74: 1–271.