Generic diagnosis

Medium sized, dark, usually apterous Idolothripinae. Head projecting in front of rounded eyes; genae convex, constricted behind eyes; interocular area reticulate, also a longitudinal row of reticulation posteromedially; ocelli small, postocellar and major postocular setae capitate. Antennae 8-segmented, segment I with two large setae; sense cones on III–IV not elongate, III with 2 sense cones, IV with 4. Pronotal epimeral setae arise on prominent tubercles, anteromarginal and posteroangular setae small. Prosternal basantra transverse, mesopresternum entire; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Mesonotum transverse; metanotum reticulate, median setae small. Pelta transverse; macropterae tergites IV–VI each with 2 pairs of pale sigmoid wing-retaining setae, apterae with one such seta on tergites V–VI; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 broadly blunt, S3 finely acute. Male similar to female but fore tarsus with minute tooth.

Nomenclatural data

Malesiathrips Palmer & Mound, 1978: 196. Type species Malesiathrips malayensis Palmer & Mound, by original designation.

Four species are recognised in this southeast Asian genus (ThripsWiki, 2022).

Australian species
Malesiathrips australis Mound, 2007: 66.

Relationship data

Despite the surface sculpture, this genus is related to Mecynothrips in the Idolothripinae, Idolothripini, Elaphrothripina.

Distribution data

The four species in this genus are known from Malaysia, Guam, Solomon Islands and northern Queensland, Australia,

Biological data

Spore-feeding on dead branches, but the Australian species is found commonly on the dead stems of the climbing palm, Calamus.

References

Mound LA (2007) New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Zootaxa 1604: 53–68.

Palmer JM & Mound LA (1978) Nine genera of fungus-feeding Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera) from the Oriental Region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 37: 153–215.

ThripsWiki (2021) ThripsWiki - providing information on the World's thrips. Available from

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