Generic diagnosis

Variously coloured Phlaeothripinae with the tube length varying between species from 5 to 12 times its basal width and often with prominent setae laterally. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones. Head varying between species from short to long with genae strongly convex to parallel-sided; postocular setae commonly not distinguished from minor cephalic setae but long and prominent in a few species; maxillary stylets vary in position between species. Pronotum with major setae varying in size and length, sometimes only epimerals long; anteromarginals commonly not distinguished from discal setae; notopleural sutures sometimes incomplete. Prosternal basantra usually absent (well-developed in one Australian species); ferna well-developed, fused in 2 species into one transverse sclerite; mesopresternum complete; metathoracic sternopleural sutures not developed. Tergal wing-retaining setae slender and pointed or broadly flattened and leaf-like; tergite IX major setae short except in one Australian species. Male with tergite IX setae S2 usually stouter than S1 (minute in 2 species from Australia); with large pore plate on sternite VIII.

Nomenclatural data

Leeuwenia Karny, 1912: 161. Type species Leeuwenia gladiatrix Karny, 1912, by monotypy.

There are 27 species listed in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Leeuwenia aliceae Mound & Tree, 2021: 441
Leeuwenia cameroni Mound & Tree, 2021: 442
Leeuwenia convergens Hood, 1918: 149
Leeuwenia diospyri Mound, 2004: 34
Leeuwenia irukandji Mound & Tree, 2021: 445
Leeuwenia polyosmae Mound, 2004: 35
Leeuwenia scolopiae Mound, 2004: 36
Leeuwenia tetrastigmae Mound, 2004: 36

Relationship data

This genus of Phlaeothripinae, in which species have abdominal segment ten (the tube) unusually elongate, is presumably derived from the Liothrips/Gynaikothrips complex of Old World species.

Distribution data

Members of this genus are found between India, Japan and the rainforests of northern and eastern Australia.

Biological data

Leaf-feeding, and usually inducing curled-leaf galls, the various species in Australia are recorded from Syzygium alatoramulum and S. tierneyanum [Myrtaceae], Diospyros pentamera [Ebenaceae], Scolopia braunii [Flacourtiaceae], Polyosma cunninghamii [Grossulariaceae], and Tetrastigma nitens [Vitaceae].

References

Mound LA (2004) Australian long-tailed gall thrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae, Leeuweniini), with comments on related Old World taxa. Australian Journal of Entomology 43: 36–45.

Mound LA & Tree DJ (2021) Structural variation among species of Leeuwenia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) with three new species from Australia. Zootaxa, 4903 (3): 439–447.

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