Generic diagnosis

Macropterous Phlaeothripinae with broad maxillary stylets. Head almost twice as long as wide, genae constricted behind eyes but with a pronounced tubercle, dorsal surface with extensive reticulation; maxillary stylets 4–5 microns wide, retracted to compound eyes and close together medially. Antennae 8-segmented, VIII clearly separate from VII, segment III with 3 sense cones, IV with 4. Pronotum with 4 pairs of major setae, notopleural sutures complete; metanotum reticulate. Prosternal basantra absent, ferna transverse, mesopresternum formed of 3 sclerites; metathoracic sternopleural sutures present. Fore tarsal tooth in female as long as tarsal width; fore tibia inner margin with small sub-apical tubercle; fore femur swollen with stout papilliform tubercle medially. Fore wings broad, parallel-sided, with many duplicated cilia. Abdomen with pelta relatively small and triangular; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 weakly capitate.

Nomenclatural data

Covidthrips Mound, 2020: 249. Type species Covidthrips novendecim Mound 2020, by monotypy.

Only one species is placed in this genus.

Australian species
Covidthrips novendecim Mound, 2020: 251

Relationship data

Known only from females, this genus is considered to be related to Holothrips because of the relatively broad and elongate maxillary stylets. However, it is distinguished by the tubercle on the fore femur and on the fore tibial apex, as well as by the clear separation between antennal segments VII and VIII.

Distribution data

Known only from a single sample in eastern Queensland, Australia.

Biological data

The two known females were collected from the canopy of a rainforest tree, Argyrodendron actinophyllum [Malvaceae], using an insecticide fogging technique.

References

Mound LA (2020) Covidthrips novendecim: an isolated new Phlaeothripinae taxon (Thysanoptera) from Queensland. Australian Entomologist 47 (4): 248–252.