Generic diagnosis

Large to medium size, dark, macropterous, dorso-ventrally flattened Phlaeothripinae with quadrate tergite IX. Head with genae narrowing to base from small postocular tubercle, with several small setae; post-occipital ridge with pair of large tubercles; eyes longer dorsally than ventrally; postocular setae small, wide apart; maxillary stylets not retracted to postocular setae, about one third to one quarter of head width apart, maxillary bridge absent. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 3 sense cones. Pronotum smooth with weak median longitudinal apodeme; notopleural sutures complete, posteroangular and epimeral setae long and acute. Prosternal basantra not developed but chitinous islets large; ferna variable, anterior margin in larger individuals transverse with inner angle prolonged forward, smallest specimens with ferna nearly sub-circular; mesopresternum complete; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Metanotum faintly reticulate. Fore tarsal tooth acutely pointed, much larger in large individuals; fore tibia with small pre-apical tubercle on inner margin; fore femora stout, particularly in large individuals, but without tubercles; mid and hind femora swollen. Fore wing broad, parallel-sided, without duplicated cilia, apical cilia short; sub-basal seta S1 minute, S2 long and acute. Pelta almost quadrate; tergites II–VII with reticulate sculpture and 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; lateral margins of tergites with row of short stout setae; tergite IX posterior margin as wide as anterior margin, setae S1 finely acute in both sexes, slightly shorter than tube, S2 of female short and stout; tube more than three times as long as tergite IX, anal setae dark and almost as long as tube. Male: fore tarsal tooth small in smallest male; tooth behind eye scarcely developed; tergite IX tapering normally with setae S2 short and slender; sternite VIII with large transverse pore plate extending onto tergite VIII around dorso-ventral muscle insertions.

Nomenclatural data

Truncatothrips Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 291. Type species Truncatothrips terryae Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004, by original designation.

Only one species is known in this genus.

Australian species
Truncatothrips terryae Crespi, Morris & Mound, 2004: 291

Relationship data

Molecular data suggest that this genus is related to Sartrithrips, another genus of domicile-creating species.

Distribution data

Known only from central Australia.

Biological data

The only known species constructs a nest or domicile within which to breed by glueing together pairs of phyllodes of Acacia kempeana.

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.