Generic diagnosis

Small, dark apterous Idolothripinae. Head about as wide as long, eyes not large; maxillary stylets wide apart, retracted to postocular setae; mouth cone broadly rounded, maxillary palps terminal sensorium large. Antennae 8-segmented, VII–VIII closely joined, VII sharply constricted to basal neck; segment III with either 2 or no sense cones, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotal notopleural sutures sometimes incomplete; major setae small, anteromarginal and midlateral setae minute. Prosternal basantra absent or faintly indicated; mesopresternum and mesoeusternum anterior margin strongly eroded, metathoracic sternopleural sutures broad. Metanotum transverse, without sculpture, median setae small. Fore tarsal tooth absent in both sexes. Pelta extending almost full width of tergite II; tergite II lateral margins strongly eroded; tergal setae small or minute; tergite IX setae S1 shorter than tube; female with fustis almost circular, scarcely longer than wide; tube much shorter than head; sternites with a few minute discal setae, marginal setae small.

Nomenclatural data

Minaeithrips Mound, 2007: 60. Type species Minaeithrips aliceae Mound, by original designation.

Only two species are recognised in this Australian genus

Australian species
Minaeithrips aliceae Mound,2007: 61.
Minaeithrips driesseni Mound,2007: 61.

Relationship data

This genus is placed in the Idolothripinae, Pygothripini, Allothripina and differs from Allothrips in the lack of large setae on the pronotum.

Distribution data

Known only from Australia, with aliceae widespread from South Australia to central Queensland, but driesseni known only from Tasmania.

Biological data

These two species in this genus feed on fungal spores on dead branches.

References

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