Distinguishing features

Female macroptera. Body brown, hind tibia with apical third yellow, tarsi yellow; antennal segments I–II brown, III–IV yellow, V yellow with apical third brown; fore wings brown with basal quarter sharply white. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV with long forked sense cone. Head wider than long, with 3 pairs of ocellar setae; pair III arising between midpoint of hind ocelli; 4 pairs of short postocular setae. Pronotal disc with weak transverse reticulation, median discal setae about as long as 3 transverse reticles, longer than width of an ocellus; 2 pairs of long posteroangular setae, 3 pairs of posteromarginals. Mesonotum with paired anterior campaniform sensilla. Metanotum with 2 pairs of setae at anterior margin, median area with weak longitudinal reticulation, paired campaniform sensilla close together near posterior margin. Mesosternal furca with spinula, metasternal furca without spinula. Fore wing first vein with complete row of about 18 setae, second vein with 12 closely spaced setae; clavus with one discal and 5 marginal setae. Tergites VI–VII with posteroangular setae arising mesad of the posterior angle; VI–VII with small ctenidia present laterally and terminating at median lateral seta; ctenidia on VIII slightly anterolateral to spiracles; VIII with no posteromarginal comb; tergite IX with paired campaniform sensilla on anterior third.
Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller; tergite VIII with no marginal comb; tergite IX posteromedian setae long and stout; sternites III–VII without pore plate.

Related species

The genus Parabaliothrips comprises five species, three from S.E.Asia, and two from Australia. The abdominal ctenidia terminate at the median lateral seta on tergites VI–VII, a more anterior position than in species of Frankliniella. Females of P. setifer have the forewing sharply white at the base with the second vein bearing only 12 setae, and males have no sternal pore plates, and long stout setae on the ninth tergite.

Biological data

Feeding and breeding on the leaves of Leucopogon lanceolatus [Epacridaceae].

Distribution data

Known only from Australia (New South Wales and Queensland).

Family name

THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE

Species name

Parabaliothrips setifer (Karny)

Original name and synonyms

Isoneurothrips setifer Karny, 1920: 38.

References

Gillespie PS, Mound LA & Wang CL (2002) Austro-oriental genus Parabaliothrips Priesner (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) with a new Australian species forming male aggregations. Australian Journal of Entomology 41: 111–117.