Generic diagnosis

Macropterous dark brown Phlaeothripinae. Head with genae constricted to basal neck, projecting slightly in front of eyes; maxillary stylets almost one third of head width apart, retracted into head no more than one third of its length; eyes large, usually larger dorsally than ventrally, postocular setae sometimes long and slender. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone on external apex (validus with 2), IV with 3 sense cones (mulgae with 2); VIII small and closely joined to VII. Pronotum relatively elongate, notopleural sutures complete, posteroangular and epimeral setae variable. Prosternal basantra small or not developed, ferna large, sometimes longer than broad with median margins closely parallel; mesopresternum reduced to two lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures short and slender, sometimes not developed. Mesonotum with complete longitudinal division medially, lateral setae short. Metanotum with weakly elevated V-shaped ridge medially. Fore tarsal tooth usually large or elongate; fore tibia sometimes with tubercle at inner apex; femora without tubercles. Fore wing broad, distal cilia short, with 8 to 30 duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae not elongate. Pelta broad; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 slender; sternite VIII subgenital plate of female broadly rounded with median thickening; tube shorter than head, anal setae dark, usually shorter than tube. Male similar to female but usually smaller with less well-developed fore tibial tubercle and fore tarsal tooth; sternite VIII with or without pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Paracholeothrips Moulton, 1968: 110. Type species Paracholeothrips validus Moulton, 1968, by monotypy.

There are five species recognised in this genus.

Australian species
Paracholeothrips calcicolae Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 270
Paracholeothrips clavisetae (Girault, 1926: 1)
Paracholeothrips gracilis Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 272
Paracholeothrips mulgae Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004
Paracholeothrips validus Moulton, 1968: 111

Relationship data

Presumably related to Lichanothrips and to Panoplothrips that also create domiciles on Acacia phyllodes.

Distribution data

This endemic Australian genus is found widely across the continent in the semi-arid zone.

Biological data

The species all create domiciles, or nests, by glueing together pairs of phyllodes, and they are found on many different Acacia species.

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.