Generic diagnosis

Small, apterous, weakly sclerotised Phlaeothripinae. Head slightly prolonged in front of eyes, ocelli absent; compound eyes not extending onto ventral surface; maxillary stylets close together in middle of head, retracted to compound eyes but with small loop in prothoracic region. Antennae 6-segmented; segments III–V fused, VIII 4 times longer than wide; III with 1 sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotum strongly eroded laterally, with 6 pairs of broadly capitate setae. Thoracic sternites largely membranous; prosternal basantra with small setae, sternopleural sutures broadly expanded; meso and metasterna each with 1 pair of long slender setae laterally. Meso and metanota broadly joined, spiracular areas broad and dorso-ventrally elongate. Fore tarsus with no tooth, but inner and outer ventral hamus well developed. Pelta weakly sclerotised, extending across anterior margin of tergite II, spiracular area large; tergites II–VII with 3 pairs of broadly capitate marginal setae; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 capitate, S3 slender and acute; tube short, margins strongly convex, narrowing to apex, anal setae short. Sternites III–VIII with 2 transverse rows of minute discal setae. Male similar to but smaller than female, without sternal pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Leichhardtithrips Tree & Mound, 2013: 176. Type species Leichhardtithrips evanidus Tree & Mound, 2013, by monotypy.

Only one species is known in this genus.

Australian species
evanidus Tree & Mound, 2013: 377

Relationship data

A highly aberrant member of the Phlaeothrips-lineage in the Phlaeothripinae, but possibly related to genera such as Baenothrips in the Urothrips-group, despite having abdominal segment X short.

Distribution data

Described from one female taken near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, no further specimens have been found subsequently in this country. However, both sexes of this species have been recorded from New Caledonia by Goldarazena & Michel (2021).

Biological data

Collected by insecticide-spraying of the bark of a live Eucalyptus tree.

References

Goldarazena A & Michel B (2022) Four Phlaeothripinae newly recorded from New Caledonia, including a new species of Adraneothrips Hood (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae). Zootaxa 5094 (1): 169–176.

Tree DJ & Mound LA (2013) Leichhardt’s vanishing thrips: a remarkable new genus and species of Insecta, Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 58: 375–379.