Generic diagnosis

Medium sized, macropterous, bicoloured Phlaeothripinae, with very short maxillary stylets. Head slightly longer than wide, weakly constricted behind eyes; postocular setae capitate; mouth cone short, maxillary stylets wide apart and scarcely retracted anterior to posterior margin of head; maxillary bridge absent. Antennae 8-segmented; segment III with 2 sense cones, IV with 3 sense cones; VIII not constricted at base. Pronotum with almost no sculpture; notopleural sutures complete; prosternal basantra weak or absent; mesopresternum complete; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Fore tarsal tooth absent. Fore wings usually without duplicated cilia. Pelta bell-shaped; tergites II‒VII each with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tube shorter than head. Male tergite IX S2 setae shorter than S1, sternite VIII without pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Bamboosiella Ananthakrishnan, 1957: 65. Type species Bamboosiella bicoloripes Ananthakrishnan 1957, by monotypy.

There are 31 species listed in this genus, all from the Old World tropics (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Bamboosiella australis (Pitkin, 1977: 54)
Bamboosiella cingulata (Hood, 1919: 80)

Relationship data

Although considered at one time (Pitkin 1973) as related to Haplothrips, this genus appears to be closely related to members of the Phlaeothrips-lineage that are associated with bamboo plants [Poaceae] in Asia (Okajima 2006).

Distribution data

Members of this genus are mainly from the Asian tropics, but cingulata is recorded from various countries around the world. In Australia, cingulata has been found in northern areas, including Townsville, Darwin and Torres Strait Islands, as well as Norfolk Island and New Caledonia. In contrast, australis has been found only between Brisbane and Sydney.

Biological data

The two species found in Australia are associated with the base of grasses, but it is not clear if they are phytophagous, fungivorous, or even predatory.

References

Pitkin BR (1973) A revision of the Australian Haplothripini, with descriptions of three new species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 12: 315–339.

Okajima S (2006) The Insects of Japan. Volume 2. The suborder Tubulifera (Thysanoptera). Fukuoka: Touka Shobo Co. Ltd. pp. 1–720.

ThripsWiki (2022) ThripsWiki - providing information on the World's thrips. Available from: http://thrips.info/wiki/ (Accessed 15.iii.2022)