Generic diagnosis

Large, dark, winged or apterous Idolothripinae. Head longer than wide; genae almost parallel or narrowing to base, with about 6 stout setae; genae of apterae with pair of clear ommatidium-like structures ventrolaterally on posterior fifth; maxillary stylets broad, retracted to eyes and close together medially; postocular setae long, ocellar setae small; mouth cone broadly rounded. Antennae 8-segmented, III with 2 sense cones, IV with 4, VIII narrowed to base. Pronotum short and transverse, with four pairs of long, finely pointed major setae, anteromarginals short; epimeral setae on small tubercles, notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra transverse, ferna large and pointed medially; mesopresternum slender and transverse; metathoracic sternopleural sutures not developed. Metanotum transverse, with no sculpture, median setae slender. Fore tarsus with prominent, curved lateral tooth. Fore wing with about 15 duplicated cilia. Pelta broad, with little sculpture; tergites without sculpture, with one pair of wing-retaining setae; posteroangular tergal setae on II–IV shorter than tergites, on VI–VII much longer than tergites, on IX as long as tube. Sternites without discal setae, prominent transverse row of pores present in front of antecostal ridge. Male apterous, robust, genae with at least 12 pairs of setae; pronotum with anterior and posterior margins thickened, median apodeme strong; prosternal ferna massive with curved anterior margins; coxae protruding laterally with a stout terminal seta; fore femora enlarged and curved; fore tibia with two small tubercles on inner margin, one subterminal and one terminal; fore tarsal tooth longer than tarsal width; sternites with small discal setae; tube without prominent lateral setae.

Nomenclatural data

Polytrichothrips Priesner, 1939: 77. Type species Polytrichothrips pilosus Priesner (=Docessissophothrips laticeps Bagnall), by monotypy.

Only 2 species are recognised in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2022), one of which is from tropical Australia

Australian species
Polytrichothrips geoffri Mound, 2007: 64

Relationship data

Presumably related to Ethirothrips in the Idolothripinae, Pygothripini, Macrothripina, but with maxillary styles broad and close together medially in head.

Distribution data

The type species was described from Sarawak, but the second species has been found at various sites in southeastern Queensland, Australia.

Biological data

These are spore-feeding species on dead branches.

References

Mound LA (2007) New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Zootaxa 1604: 53–68.

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