Generic diagnosis

Macropterous dark brown Phlaeothripinae with long stylets. Head slightly wider than long, eyes smaller ventrally than dorsally, postocular setae scarcely reaching posterior margin of eyes; maxillary stylets retracted to posterior ocelli, crossing over medially and with a slight loop laterally at base of mouth cone; maxillary guides stout and curved; mouth cone extending between fore coxae. Antennae 8-segmented, sense cone length less than half apical width of segment on III & IV; III with one sense cone, IV with 3 (+1), VIII not constricted at base. Pronotum reticulate, with 5 pairs of major setae, anteromarginal, midlateral and posteroangular pairs shorter than anteroangular and epimeral pairs; notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra not developed, mesopresternum reduced to pair of lateral triangles, metathoracic sternopleural sutures well developed. Metanotum reticulate, medially with one pair of small setae. Both sexes with large fore tarsal tooth; fore femora swollen in large males. Fore wing without duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae arranged in straight line. Pelta reticulate, triangular with apex truncate; tergites reticulate laterally, almost striate medially, II–VII each with two pairs of wing retaining setae; tergite IX with three pairs of capitate setae, S2 in male 0.5 as long as S1; tube shorter than head. Male sternite VIII with transverse glandular area anterior to discal setae.

Nomenclatural data

Callococcithrips Mound & Wells, 2007: 58. Type species Rhynchothrips fuscipennis Moulton 1968, by original designation.

Only two species are known in this genus.

Australian species
Callococcithrips atratus (Moulton, 1935: 100)
Callococcithrips fuscipennis (Moulton, 1968: 97)

Relationship data

The genus is a member of the Liothrips-lineage of Phlaeothripinae. It is presumably closely related to members of the Teuchothrips-group, but the maxillary stylets are long and cross over medially in the head as in Heligmothrips species that live on the foliage of Casuarina trees. However, Callococcithrips species lack fore wing duplicated cilia.

Distribution data

Known only from Australia, with one species known from New South Wales and Victoria, and the other from Western Australia.

Biological data

The type species of this genus breeds and feeds under the waxy filaments produced by Callococcus acaciae on species of Kunzea [Myrtaceae] (Mound & Wells 2007).

References

Mound LA & Wells A (2007) A new genus for an Australian thrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) presumed predatory on a waxy eriococcid (Hemiptera, Coccoidea). Zootaxa 1645: 57–61.