Generic diagnosis

Small pale micropterous or macropterous Phlaeothripinae. Head elongate, postocular setae well-developed; compound eyes in micropterae reduced to about 6 facets; maxillary stylets retracted to eyes, close together medially. Antennae 8-segmented, III–VIII all pedicillate, III and IV each with 3 sense cones, VIII long and slender. Pronotum almost smooth, with 5 pairs of long capitate setae; notopleural sutures weakly complete. Prosternal basantra absent, ferna transverse, mesopresternum reduced to pair of weak triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Metanotum without sculpture lines. Fore tarsal tooth present in male, absent in female. Fore wing slender, weakly constricted medially, with 4 to 6 duplicated cilia. Pelta broadly D-shaped; tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, these are small and straight in micropterae; tergal lateral setae long and capitate, on IX acute and as long as tube. Males vary greatly in body size; sternite VIII with small transversely oval pore plate.

Nomenclatural data

Pygmaeothrips Karny, 1920: 40. Type species Pygmaeothrips columniceps Karny, 1920, by monotypy (=Trichothrips angusticeps Hood)

Only one species is placed in this genus.

Australian species
Pygmaeothrips angusticeps (Hood, 1908: 367)

Relationship data

This genus is closely related to Hoplothrips in the Phlaeothripinae, but the only species has very long maxillary stylets, and 3 sense cones on antennal segment III as well as on IV.

Distribution data

Described under seven different names (ThripsWiki 2022), this species is widespread throughout the tropics although usually rare. A few specimens have been collected in northern and southeastern Queensland, but a large population of winged and wingless individuals was found on Christmas Island.

Biological data

This species is found on dead branches where it is presumably fungus-feeding.

References

Mound LA & Marullo R (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International 6: 1–488.

Okajima S (2006) The Insects of Japan Volume 2 The suborder Tubulifera (Thysanoptera). Fukuoka: Touka Shobo Co Ltd pp. 1–720.

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