Generic diagnosis

Large, dark brown, macropterous Phlaeothripinae with 2 sense cones on antennal segment III. Head longer than wide; postocular setae long, weakly capitate, arising near lateral margin of head, mid-dorsal head setae sometimes well-developed; genae with several small setae; maxillary stylets retracted half-way to postocular setae, one-fifth of head width apart; mouth cone pointed but not extending beyond fore coxae. Antennae 8-segmented, III with 2 sense cones, IV with 3+1 sense cones, VIII with base slightly narrower than apex of VII. Pronotum strongly reticulate, with 5 pairs of long capitate setae; notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra absent; mesopresternum reduced to two large lateral triangles that are weakly connected medially; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Metanotum sculptured with many small reticles, median setae not long. Fore tarsi in both sexes with prominent tooth arising close to base. Fore wing parallel-sided, with about 20 duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae long and capitate. Pelta bell-shaped with wide base; tergites II‒VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae slightly longer than tube. Male with tergite IX setae S2 short and capitate; sternite VIII largely occupied by pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Eilapinothrips Mound & Tree, 2021: 551. Type species Cryptothrips additamentus Karny, 1924, by monotypy.

Only one species is known in this genus.

Australian species
Eilapinothrips additamentus (Karny, 1924: 31).

Relationship data

This genus is possibly related to Teuchothrips, but unlike other members of the Liothrips-lineage it bears two sense cones (instead of only one) on the third antennal segment.

Distribution data

This Australian endemic genus includes a single species that has been found in moist forests of the east coast and also in arid areas of northern Australia.

Biological data

The only species lives as a kleptoparasite of Gynaikothrips australis on the leaves of Ficus macrophylla, the Moreton Bay Fig, and has a similar relationship with leaf galls induced by Gynaikothrips platypodae on rock figs, Ficus platypoda.

References

Mound LA & Tree DJ (2021) Taxonomic problems with Gynaikothrips and related genera (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae): the ficorum/uzeli complex and taxa endemic to Australia. Zootaxa 5023 (4): 537–554.