Generic diagnosis

Medium sized, bicoloured, usually apterous but rarely macropterous Phlaeothripinae with tergite X elongate. Head swollen dorsally, with convex genae laterally surrounding large eyes, surface strongly sculptured, and no long setae; macroptera apparently with no ocelli. Mouth cone almost pointed, maxillary stylets retracted to eyes, scarcely one fifth of head width apart, with no maxillary bridge. Antennae 8-segmented but VI–VIII forming a single unit; segment III with 0 sense cones, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotum with rugose tuberculate sculpture, notopleural sutures absent, epimeral and posteroangular setae small on prominent tubercles. Prosternal basantra present, ferna large; mesopresternum complete but slender; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Metathoracic epimera slightly swollen with prominent seta. Fore tarsal tooth absent in both sexes. Fore wings narrow, with tuberculate sculpture near base, no duplicated cilia. Abdominal tergite I transverse; tergites II‒VII submedially with pair of small setae on tubercles; macroptera tergites II‒VII with two pairs of broadly flattened wing retaining setae close to mid-line; abdominal segment IX twice as long as wide, without prominent setae; tube long and slender, slightly longer than head; anal setae longer than tube. Male similar to female, sternite VIII without pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Octurothrips Priesner, 1931: 93. Type species Octurothrips pulcher Priesner, 1931, by monotypy.

There is only one species known in this genus.

Australian species
Octurothrips pulcher Priesner, 1931: 93

Relationship data

This Australian endemic genus is a member of the Urothrips-group of Phlaeothripinae, in which the species all have abdominal segments IX and X unusually long. It shares many character states with Habrothrips, but has the head and antennae very different.

Distribution data

Described from a single specimen taken at Healesville, Victoria, this species has otherwise been seen only from the inland arid zone of eastern Australia between Maree in South Australia and various sites between Taroom and Blackall in Queensland.

Biological data

Presumably fungus-feeding, specimens have mostly been beaten from the stems of various Acacia species. The only available larva has tergite X shorter than the elongate IX, and bearing very long anal setae.

References

Mound LA (1972) Species complexes and the generic classification of leaf-litter thrips of the Tribe Urothripini (Phlaeothripidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 20: 83–103.