Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown, tarsi and antennal segment III yellow, IV also largely yellow; fore wings light brown with base scarcely paler. Antennae 8-segmented; segment I with paired dorso-apical setae; segments III–IV with apex forming short neck, sense cone forked; V with sense cone base oval, VI with sensorium base expanded. Head wider than long; 3 pairs of ocellar setae present; pair III anterior to hind ocelli, shorter than diameter of an ocellus; postocular setae small, close to posterior margin of eyes. Pronotum with strong sculpture, 1 pair of long posteroangular setae; posterior margin with 4 pairs of setae. Fore tibia with two recurved tubercles at apex, ventrally and laterally. Metanotum reticulate, campaniform sensilla present; median setae arise at anterior margin. Mesofurca with spinula. Fore wing first vein with row of setae irregularly and widely spaced on distal third; clavus with 5 veinal setae and one discal seta. Tergites without sculpture medially; VIII with group of irregular microtrichia anterior to spiracle, posteromarginal comb represented by few microtrichia laterally. Sternites without discal setae, VII with median setae arising in front of margin.
Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller, large males with ocellar setae III and pronotal posteroangular setae relatively longer than in small males and females; tergites III–VI with no sculpture lines medially, VI with prominent dark lobe medially on posterior margin; tergite IX IX posterior margin with no long processes; sternites without pore plates, IV–VII with small transparent lobe medially on posterior margin.

Related species

So far as is known, O. hopei is unique within this genus in the following character states of males: tergite VI with a prominent lobe medially on the posterior magin; ninth tergite with no posteromarginal processes; several sternites bearing a median posteromarginal lobe. Odontothripiella is an Australian genus that currently includes 18 described species, with several more undescribed species also known. The genus shares many character states with Megalurothrips, in particular the presence of a pair of small setae dorsally at the apical margin of the first antennal segment.

Biological data

Collected from the flowers of Jacksonia spinosa [Fabaceae].

Distribution data

Known only from Western Australia.

Family name

THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE

Species name

Odontothripiella hopei Pitkin

Original name and synonyms

Odontothripiella hopei Pitkin, 1972: 281.

References

Pitkin BR (1972) A revision of the Australian genus Odontothripiella Bagnall, with descriptions of fourteen new species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 11: 265–289.