Generic diagnosis

Small brown macropterous Phlaeothripinae with prominent interantennal projection. Female with head more than twice as long as wide; large female with interantennal projection extending to apex of antennal I, shorter in male; eyes longer on dorsal than ventral surface; postocular setae well developed in large female and male, absent in small female; mouth cone short and rounded; maxillary stylets elongate, crossing over each other near base of head, with one lateral convolution; mandible small, restricted to mouth cone. Antennae 8-segmented; segment II with campaniform sensillum placed medially; segment III with 1 sense cone, IV with 3 (or 2) sense cones; VIII distinct from VII but not constricted at base. Pronotum narrower than prothorax, all 5 pairs of major setae present; notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra absent; mesopresternum reduced to two triangle; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Mesonotal midlateral setae well developed with apices expanded; metanotum reticulate medially with 1 pair of small fine setae. Fore tarsal tooth larger in female than in male. Fore wing parallel-sided, duplicated cilia present, 3 sub-basal setae present with expanded apices. Pelta elongate triangular; tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae arising laterally; tube short with long anal setae; sternites with transverse row of about 10 discal setae; male sternite VIII with no pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Akthethrips Mound, 1970: 452. Type species Akthethrips strobus Mound 1970, by monotypy.

Only one species is known in this genus.

Australian species
Akthethrips strobus Mound, 1970: 452

Relationship data

The position of the campaniform sensillum on antennal segment II might suggest a relationship to Plectrothrips in the Phlaeothripinae. However, given that the species seems to be phytophagous, the genus is more likely to be related to the leaf-feeding Liothrips/Teuchothrips complex, particularly to the genus Heligmothrips in which species also have elongate convoluted maxillary stylets.

Distribution data

Recorded in eastern New South Wales and in South Australia.

Biological data

The single species was found originally living on the foliage of Casuarina glauca, but was also found subsequently on Casuarina pauper.

References

Mound LA (1970) Convoluted maxillary stylets and the systematics of some Phlaeothripine Thysanoptera from Casuarina trees in Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 18: 439–463.