Generic diagnosis

Macropterous dark brown Phlaeothripinae. Head slightly prolonged in front of eyes; genae very weakly sinuate medially, constricted to basal neck; eyes larger dorsally than ventrally; maxillary stylets wide apart and low in head. Antennae 8-segmented, segment III with one sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotum relatively elongate, notopleural sutures complete, posteroangular setae long, epimeral setae short and stout. Prosternal basantra not developed, ferna elongate with median margins closely parallel; mesopresternum reduced to 2 lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures short and slender. Femora stout, with curved tubercle on inner margin; fore tibia without a tubercle; fore tarsal tooth long and slender in both sexes. Fore wing broad, distal cilia short, without duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae short. Mesonotum with posteromedian cleft deep and irregular, lateral setae short. Metanotum reticulate medially. Pelta anterior margin rounded; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae S1 long, S2 short and slender in both sexes; posterior margin of tergite IX relatively broad; tube shorter than head, flared at base. Male smaller than female but similar in structure, sternite VIII without pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Panoplothrips Moulton, 1968: 107. Type species Panoplothrips australiensis Moulton, 1968, by monotypy.

Only one species is recognised in this genus.

Australian species
Panoplothrips australiensis Moulton, 1968: 108

Relationship data

An unusual species that is possibly related to species of Truncatothrips or Paracholeothrips.

Distribution data

The distribution of this genus is restricted by the distribution of its host plant across dry areas of northern Australia. .

Biological data

This species creates domiciles on Acacia shirleyi, lancewood, by glueing together pairs of phyllodes.

References

Crespi BJ, Morris DC & Mound LA (2004) Evolution of ecological and behavioural diversity: Australian Acacia thrips as model organisms. Australian Biological Resources Study & Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia, pp. 1–328.