Generic diagnosis

Moderately large, dark brown Phlaeothripinae. Body brown; usually with only base of antennal segment III pale. Head with large eyes; cheeks more or less constricted at base, sometimes with 1 or more pairs of short, stout setae; postoccipital ridge with a pair of small projections; postocular setae relatively distant from eyes; mouth cone short and broadly rounded; maxillary stylets retracted almost to eyes, about one-fifth of head width apart; maxillary bridge sometimes present. Antennae 8-segmented; segments III and IV both with 3 sense cones; segment IV rather truncate at apex. Pronotum of females exceptionally short and transverse; notopleural sutures complete; epimeral setae longest; anteromarginal setae short. Prosternal basantra absent, but sometimes faintly indicated; ferna large; mesopresternum of two triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long, curved. Metanotum reticulate, with 1 pair of slender median setae. Fore tarsi with well developed tooth in both sexes; fore femora enlarged in large males, posterior margin angulate where it contacts ridged inner surface of fore coxae. Fore wings broad, parallel sided but narrowed at apex, bearing numerous duplicated cilia. Pelta reticulate, roughly triangular; anterior tergites with posteroangular setae absent or small; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae; females with tergite IX setae S1 slightly shorter than S2. Tube length varying with gender and body size; anal setae long. Male sternite VIII with large pore plate; tergite IX setae S2 varying in size between species.

Nomenclatural data

Cartomothrips Stannard, 1963: 38. Type species Cartomothrips browni Stannard 1963, by original designation.

There are six species recognised in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Cartomothrips abrsi Mound & Walker, 2012: 60
Cartomothrips browni Stannard, 1962: 39
Cartomothrips laughlini Mound & Walker, 1982: 309
Cartomothrips manukae Stannard, 1962: 40
Cartomothrips neboissi Mound & Walker, 1982: 311

Relationship data

This Phlaeothripinae genus is probably related to the fungus-feeding members of the Phlaeothrips-lineage.

Distribution data

Five members of this genus are known from eastern Australia. Two of these are also found in New Zealand, of which one has been distributed to other countries in the seed capsules of Eucalyptus species that have been planted widely by foresters. The sixth species listed in this genus is known only from New Zealand.

Biological data

The Australian species are found within the dried fruits of some Myrtaceae, including species of Leptospermum and Eucalyptus, but it is not known if they are phytophagous or mycophagous.

References

Mound LA & Walker AK (1982) Faunal relationships between Australia and New Zealand as indicated by Cartomothrips species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). Journal of Natural History 16: 305–313.

Mound LA & Walker AK (2012) The Australia-New Zealand connection re-visited, with two new species of Cartomothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae). Zootaxa 3487: 58–64.

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