Generic diagnosis

Medium sized macropterous or micropterous Idolothripinae. Head longer than wide or slightly wider than long; postocular setae well developed; postocellar setae short; eyes not prolonged ventrally; maxillary stylets V-shaped within head. Antennae 8-segmented; III with 2 sense cones, IV with 4 sense cones, VIII short but not sharply constricted basally. Pronotal notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra present; metathoracic sternopleural sutures present. Metanotal median setae weak. Fore tarsal tooth present in male, present or absent in female. Fore wings with duplicated cilia. Pelta broadly hat-shaped; tergites II–VII each with one pair of wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae usually elongate; tube rather robust with slightly convex sides, sometimes with setal bearing small tubercles.

Nomenclatural data

Neosmerinthothrips Schmutz, 1913: 1051. Type species Neosmerinthothrips fructuum Schmutz, by monotypy.

There are 23 species worldwide in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022), with two known only from Australia.

Australian species
Neosmerinthothrips barrowi Mound & Tree, 2021: 172
Neosmerinthothrips turrbali Mound & Tree, 2021: 173

Relationship data

This genus remains weakly diagnosed within the Idolothripinae, Pygothripini, Diceratothripina. It shares many character states with Nesothrips but the tube is more robust.

Distribution data

Members of this genus have been described from countries throughout the tropics, and the two described from Australia were both taken in the north of this continent.

Biological data

From the gut contents it is clear that members of this genus imbibe whole fungal spores.

References

Mound LA & Tree DJ (2021) Tubuliferous Thysanoptera in Australia with an enlarged tenth abdominal segment (Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), including six new species. Zootaxa, 4951 (1): 167–181.

Okajima S (2006) The Insects of Japan. Volume 2. The suborder Tubulifera (Thysanoptera). Fukuoka: Touka Shobo Co. Ltd. pp. 1–720.

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