Generic diagnosis

Dark, usually wingless, Idolothripinae with body surface reticulate and most setae white and broadly fan-shaped. Head with stylets retracted to eyes, close together medially; mouth cone broadly rounded; eyes large, longer on dorsal than on ventral surface; genae parallel but constricted near base; dorsal surface with 2 or 3 paired longitudinal rows of broadly fan-shaped setae, postocular setae not distinguished. Antennae 8-segmented, III with 1 or 2 sense cones, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotum transverse, notopleural sutures complete; major setae short and broadly fan-shaped. Prosternal basantra small and placed laterally; mesopresternum transverse; metathoracic sternopleural sutures short and curved. Metanotum with at least 3 pairs of fan-shaped setae. Fore wings parallel-sided without duplicated cilia. Fore tarsi with a tooth in both sexes; femora and tibiae with fan-shaped setae on outer margin. Pelta broad; macropterae with tergites II–VII each bearing 1 pair of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergites with an irregular transverse row of fan-shaped minor setae medially; tergite IX setae short and expanded; tube slender, more than two-thirds as long as head; sternites with acute marginal and discal setae.

Nomenclatural data

Pelinothrips Mound, 1974: 75. Type species Rhopalothrips ornatus Girault, by original designation.

There are only two species recognised in this genus, both from Australia

Australian species
Pelinothrips brochotus Mound, 1974: 76
Pelinothrips ornatus (Girault, 1930: 1)

Relationship data

This is another southern hemisphere member of the Idolothripinae, Pygothripini, Pygothripina, and is probably related to the Australian genus Emprosthiothrips.

Distribution data

The type species of this genus has been found widely in eastern Australia and also at Cane River Park, in the Pilbara area of Western Australia, but brochotus remains known only from the original specimen taken in northern Queensland.

Biological data

Both species in this genus are spore-feeders on dead branches.

References

Mound LA (1974) Spore-feeding Thrips (Phlaeothripidae) from Leaf Litter and Dead Wood in Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 27: 1–106.