Generic diagnosis

Moderately large, brown or bicoloured, macropterous Phlaeothripinae. Head slightly produced in front of eyes; genae with a tooth behind eyes and at least one pair of major setae in basal third; posterior margin of vertex with median internal projection; postocular setae usually long; mouth cone short and rounded; maxillary stylets not retracted as far as postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, segment III with 3 sense cones, IV with 4; IV–VII with constricted basal neck, VIII not constricted at base. Pronotum of large female longer than head and narrower than prothorax; pronotum of male transverse; notopleural sutures complete; anteromarginal setae small. Prosternal basantra absent; ferna varying in size and shape with body size; mesopresternum of two triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long and slender. Mesonotum and metanotum reticulate. Fore coxae sometimes very large; fore tibiae of large female short and stout with apical tubercle, fore tibia of male more slender; both sexes with fore tarsal tooth. Fore wing slightly narrowed medially with about 20 duplicated cilia. Pelta elongate, bell shaped; tergites II–VII with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; lateral abdominal setae long and acute, on IX about as long as tube; apex of tube weakly constricted, anal setae shorter than tube; sternites V–VII with specialised reticulate areas particularly in females. Male sternite VIII with transverse pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Choleothrips Moulton, 1927: 155. Type species Choleothrips geijerae Moulton 1927, by monotypy.

There are only two species recognised in this genus.

Australian species
Choleothrips geijerae Moulton 1927: 155
Choleothrips percnus Mound, 1971: 88

Relationship data

This is one of three genera that are found only on the leaves of Geijera, and these three genera probably represent a single lineage. The species of Sacothrips lack a prolongation medially on the posterior margin of the head, and the males lack a pore plate on sternite VIII. The single species placed in Moultonides lacks a tubercle on the inner apex of the fore tibiae. The relationships of these genera are not clear, but the absence of prosternal basantra suggests that they are not related to members of the Haplothripini, as indicated by Mound (1971).

Distribution data

An Australian endemic that is widespread in the semi-arid zone immediately West of the Great Dividing Range.

Biological data

Both species are gall-inducing on the leaves of Geijera [Rutaceae].

References

Moulton D (1927) New gall-forming Thysanoptera of Australia. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of NSW 52: 153–160.

Mound LA (1971) The complex of Thysanoptera in rolled leaf galls on Geijera. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 10: 83–97.