Generic diagnosis

Large, dark, macropterous, elongate Phlaeothripinae with multiple pairs of tergal wing-retaining setae. Head much longer than wide, ocellar region emergent, eyes bulging; no long postocular setae but vertex with a few prominent setae; genae with stout setae. Mouth-cone short, maxillary stylets not deeply retracted, about one fifth of head width apart. Antennae long and slender, 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 3; VIII not constricted at base. Pronotum irregularly reticulate, notopleural sutures usually complete; major setae varying in number between species (anterior margin of elegans with many small setae); epimeral setae well-developed. Prosternal basantra absent or weakly developed; ferna transverse; mesopresternum complete; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Metanotum longtitudinally striate/reticulate; median setae not long. Fore tarsal tooth absent or very small. Fore wings broad, parallel sided, with numerous duplicated cilia. Pelta triangular; tergites II‒IV each with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, plus several pairs of sigmoid or straight accessory wing-retaining setae; tergal posteroangular setae short and stout; tergite IX setae much shorter than tube; tube longer than head, anal setae short. Male tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternite VIII fully occupied by large pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Gigantothrips Zimmermann, 1900: 18. Type species Gigantothrips elegans Zimmermann, 1900, by monotypy.

There are 22 species listed in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Gigantothrips elegans Zimmermann, 1900: 18

Relationship data

Amongst the Phlaeothripinae this is a member of the Liothrips lineage, and is closely related to Gynaikothrips, another genus of gall-inducing species (Mound & Tree 2021). From other genera, the species of Gigantothrips are distinguished by the group of sigmoid or straight setae laterally on tergites III‒V, and also the swollen, bulging compound eyes.

Distribution data

All but one of the 22 species in this genus are from the Old World tropics, with one Asian species recorded in Australia from a single sample taken in 1945 at Katherine, in the Northern Territory.

Biological data

Associated with leaf galls on Ficus species although apparently not gall-inducing, instead feeding on the outer surface of galls or on the lower surface of leaves.

References

Mound LA (1968) A review of R.S. Bagnall's Thysanoptera collections. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology Supplement 11: 1–181.

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.

Reyes CP, Gapasin RM & Mintu CB (2020) Identity of the Giant Fig Thrips (Thysanoptera) infesting Ficus nota (Blanco) Merr. in Leyte, Philippines. Philippines Agricultural Scientist 103 (2): 172-175.

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