Generic diagnosis

Macropterous brown Phlaeothripinae, kleptoparasites of phyllode galls on Acacia. Head longer than wide; maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, with distinct maxillary bridge. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 3 sense cones. Pronotum smooth, broad or a little longer than wide in largest individuals; notopleural sutures sometimes incomplete; major setae not usually capitate. Prosternal basantra not developed, but chitinous islets commonly large; ferna large with posterior margin stout; mesopresternum reduced to 2 lateral triangles sometimes partly or completely fused to meso-eusternal margin laterally; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Mesonotal lateral setae, also metanotal median setae, usually long. Fore tarsal tooth stout; fore femora stout, fore tibia rarely with tubercle on inner apical margin. Fore wing parallel-sided, duplicated cilia present. Pelta broadly triangular; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tube shorter than head, terminal setae shorter than tube. Male sternite VIII without pore plate, tergite IX setae S2 slightly shorter than S1.

Nomenclatural data

Koptothrips Bagnall, 1929: 197. Type species Koptothrips flavicornis Bagnall, 1929, by monotypy.

Only 4 species are recognised in this genus.

Australian species
Koptothrips dyskritus Mound, 1971: 430
Koptothrips flavicornis Bagnall, 1929: 197
Koptothrips xenus Mound, 1971: 433
Koptothrips zelus Mound, 1971: 433

Relationship data

Although structurally similar to some Kladothrips species, molecular data suggests a closer relationship to structurally very different gall-invading thrips including Xaniothrips species.

Distribution data

This genus is known only from Australia. Two species are known only from Queensland, although the other two occur widely across the continent in the arid zone.

Biological data

The members of this genus are known as kleptoparasites, invading and usurping the galls induced on Acacia phyllodes by Kladothrips species. An invading adult Koptothrips will kill the Kladothrips adults but remains phytophagous, not predatory, feeding on the tissues of the gall.

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.