Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown, tarsi and antennal segment III yellow; fore wings light brown. Antennae 8-segmented; segment I with paired dorso-apical setae; segments III–IV with apex forming short neck, forked sense cone short; V with base of sense cone oval, VI with base of sensorium weakly enlarged. Head wider than long; 3 pairs of ocellar setae; pair III anterior to hind ocelli, about as long as diameter of an ocellus; postocular setae small, close to posterior margin of eyes. Pronotum sculptured, with no long setae; posterior margin with 4 pairs of setae. Fore tibia with two recurved tubercles at apex, laterally and ventrally; mid-tibia without a small claw at apex. Metanotum reticulate, campaniform sensilla present; median setae arise at anterior margin. Mesofurca with spinula. Fore wing first vein with setal row broadly interrupted with 2 setae near apex, second vein with complete row of about 16 setae; clavus with 5 veinal and one discal setae. Tergites with no sculpture medially; VIII with group of irregular microtrichia anterior to spiracle, posteromarginal comb represented by several microtrichia laterally. Sternites without discal setae, VII with median setae arising in front of margin.
Male not known.

Related species

Known only from a few females, O. morisoni differs from all other species in the genus in lacking any long setae on the pronotum. 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

Probably breeding in the flowers of some species of Fabaceae, but known only from adults taken from Goodenia sp. [Goodeniaceae].

Distribution data

Known only from South Australia.

Family name

THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE

Species name

Odontothripiella morisoni (Bagnall)

Original name and synonyms

Odontothripoides morisoni Bagnall, 1929; 47

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.