Generic diagnosis

Macropterous or micropterous Phlaeothripinae. Head slightly longer than wide, with 2 pairs of long, capitate po setae; maxillary stylets wide apart and V-shaped, retracted about half-way to postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, III with 1 sense cone, IV with 3 sense cones. Pronotum with 5 pairs of major setae, anteromarginal setae longer than anteroangular setae, notopleural sutures complete; metanotum reticulate. Prosternal basantra absent; mesopresternum weakly complete medially or reduced to pair of lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures present. Fore tarsal tooth as long as tarsal width; fore femora stout. Fore wing parallel sided, with 3 capitate sub-basal setae, without duplicated cilia. Pelta broadly triangular, campaniform sensilla usually absent, sometimes replaced by a minute seta; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of weakly sigmoid wing-retaining setae placed laterally, posterior pair on each tergite unusually long; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 slightly shorter than tube, tube slightly longer than head. Male micropterous, similar to female microptera and with ocelli present; tergite IX setae S2 variable in length 0.5–1.0 times as long as S1; sternite VIII with no pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Drypetothrips Mound & Wells, 2020: 422. Type species Drypetothrips korykis Mound & Wells, 2020, by monotypy.

Only one species is known in this genus.

Australian species
Drypetothrips korykis Mound & Wells, 2020: 422

Relationship data

Relationships of this Australian genus within the Phlaeothripinae are not clear. It shares many character states with species of the Acacia-associated genus Kladothrips, despite the very different host plant. Both genera are members of the Liothrips-group, and presumably related to the Teuchothrips species complex.

Distribution data

The only known species has been found in warmer areas along the East coast of Australia.

Biological data

The adults of this species induce rolled leaf galls on the shrub Drypetes leplanchei [Putranjivaceae].

References

Mound LA & Wells A (2020) Two new monobasic thrips genera for a gall-inducing species and its kleptoparasite (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae). Zootaxa 4759 (3): 421–426.