Generic diagnosis

Small to medium sized, macropterous Phlaeothripinae with long mouth cone. Head longer than wide, ocellar area weakly prominent, vertex transversely striate; genae slightly constricted at base; postocular setae well-developed; eyes large; mouth-cone pointed, extending across prosternum; maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, about one third of head width apart, maxillary bridge present. Antennae 8-segmented; segment III with 3 sense cones, IV with 4 sense cones; VIII slightly constricted at base. Pronotum slightly elongate with 5 pairs of major setae; notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra present; mesopresternum eroded medially, usually of two lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes. Fore wings weakly constricted medially, duplicated cilia present. Pelta triangular; tergites II–VII each with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, and often with accessory tergal wing retaining setae; tergite IX setae longer than tube; tube shorter than head. Male tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternites without pore plates.

Nomenclatural data

Dolichothrips Karny, 1912: 299. Type species Dolichothrips longicollis Karny 1912, by monotypy.

There are 21 species recognised in this Asian genus (ThripsWiki, 2022), but only one species is known from Australia.

Australian species
Dolichothrips reuteri (Karny, 1920: 40)

Relationship data

This genus is considered to be a member of the Tribe Haplothripini in the sub-family Phlaeothripinae. It shares character states with Mesothrips, but the mouth cone is longer and pointed, and the head less constricted at the base.

Distribution data

The genus is widespread in Southeast Asia, with one species known only from Hawaii where it was probably introduced. The species that is common in northern Australia, reuteri, was described originally from Taiwan and is recorded from Malaysia and also Papua New Guinea. A further Asian species, indicus (Hood), has been seen from New Caledonia.

Biological data

Several species of Dolichothrips are associated with Macaranga trees [Euphorbiaceae] as pollinators (Fiala et al. 2011), but the single species recorded from Australia has been found in the apical buds of both Macaranga tanarius and Hibiscus tiliaceus.

References

Fiala B, Meyer U, Hashim R & Maschwitz U (2011) Pollination systems in pioneer trees of the genus Macaranga (Euphorbiaceae) in Malaysian rainforests. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 103: 935–953.

Mound LA & Okajima S (2015) Taxonomic Studies on Dolichothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae), pollinators of Macaranga trees in Southeast Asia (Euphorbiaceae). Zootaxa 3956 (1): 79–96.

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