Generic diagnosis

Macropterous Phlaeothripinae, usually with digitiform tergal tubercles and modified abdominal segments IX–X. Head reticulate dorsally, projecting slightly in front of eyes, inter-antennal process relatively broad; mandible unusually stout and long, 30% of its length visible anterior to posterior margin of head; maxillary stylets retracted to compound eyes, close together medially. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones, VIII broadly joined to VII usually by an oblique suture. Pronotum transverse, notopleural sutures complete; usually with only epimeral setae long. Prosternal basantra absent; mesopresternum either complete or absent medially; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Mesonotum usually not fully divided medially. Fore tarsal tooth present. Fore wings rarely with duplicated cilia. Abdominal tergites with paired, submedian longitudinal grooves; females usually with large digitiform tubercles on median tergites; tergite VIII with pair of large sub-median setae, spiracles commonly dorsolateral within transverse grooves; tube scarcely longer than tergite IX and variously sculptured in many species; anal aperture constricted, anal setae short. Male sternite VIII without pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Dactylothrips Bagnall, 1923: 629. Type species Dactylothrips australis Bagnall 1923, by monotypy.

There are 31 species recognised in this genus, although further species are known but remain undescribed.

Australian species
Dactylothrips aenictus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 162
Dactylothrips ascius Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 163
Dactylothrips atherodes Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 163
Dactylothrips augusta Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 164
Dactylothrips australis Bagnall, 1923: 630
Dactylothrips boidion Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 165
Dactylothrips bos Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 165
Dactylothrips chaitis Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 167
Dactylothrips dactylis Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 167
Dactylothrips dens Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 168
Dactylothrips digitulus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 168
Dactylothrips distichus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 169
Dactylothrips duplicatus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 170
Dactylothrips fragosus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 170
Dactylothrips giraulti Mound, 1969: 177
Dactylothrips junix Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 171
Dactylothrips kosmos Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 173
Dactylothrips marsupium Mound, 1969: 175
Dactylothrips papyricola Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 174
Dactylothrips phascolus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 175
Dactylothrips phoxus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 175
Dactylothrips precarius Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 176
Dactylothrips priscus (Girault, 1928: 2)
Dactylothrips racemus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 178
Dactylothrips rectus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 178
Dactylothrips skolops Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 179
Dactylothrips taediosus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 179
Dactylothrips tasmani Mound, 1969: 179
Dactylothrips turba Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 180
Dactylothrips vescus Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 180
Dactylothrips yalgoo Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 181

Relationship data

The structure of the abdominal tergites and of segment ten, also the unusually long mandible in the head, are so remarkable that no relationship amongst the Phlaeothripinae can be suggested.

Distribution data

Species of this genus have been found widely across Australia, but mainly in the semi-arid zone.

Biological data

Presumably phytophagous, the species of this Phlaeothripinae genus live in abandoned galls, old leaf-mines of Lepidoptera larvae, and similar cavities on thin stems of Acacia trees. The various modifications to the tenth abdominal segment, the tube, are presumably associated with repelling the attentions of predatory ants.

References

Crespi BJ, Morris DC & Mound LA (2004) Evolution of ecological and behavioural diversity: Australian Acacia thrips as model organisms. Australian Biological Resources Study & Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia, pp. 1–328.