Generic diagnosis

Medium-sized, brownish yellow macropterous Phlaeothripinae with inner margin of antennal segment II swollen. Head slightly prolonged in front of eyes; genae with small stout seta in basal third and distinct tooth behind eyes; compound eyes longer dorsally than ventrally; postocular setae scarcely larger than minor setae; mouth cone short and rounded, maxillary stylets more than one-third of head width apart, retracted to postocular setae. Antennae eight-segmented, II with inner margin grossly swollen, III with one sense cone, IV and V each with 2 ventrolateral major sense cones, IV–VI with numerous small, blunt supernumerary sense cones ventrally. Pronotum with epimeral setae well developed, remaining major setae small; notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra not developed; mesopresternum of two small lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Mesonotum with short posteromarginal cleft; metanotum weakly reticulate, median setae small. Fore tarsus with small tooth distally on inner margin. Fore wing parallel sided, duplicated cilia absent; sub-basal setae small. Pelta broad; tergites II–VII each with two widely spaced pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergites III–VII laterally each with 2–5 small stout laterally directed discal setae; tergite IX S1 setae less than half length of tube; anal setae slightly longer than tube.

Nomenclatural data

Vicinothrips Mound & Morris, 2000: 135. Type species Vicinothrips bullatus Mound & Morris, 2000, by monotypy.

Only one species is known in this genus.

Australian species
Vicinothrips bullatus Mound & Morris, 2000: 295

Relationship data

This genus is probably related to Advenathrips and Crespithrips in which the species are also kleptoparasites of thrips-produced domiciles on Acacia phyllodes.

Distribution data

The only species in this genus is known only from a few specimens taken in central-western Queensland, Australia.

Biological data

The only known species is probably a kleptoparasite of Dunatothrips domiciles on the phyllodes of Acacia catenulata.

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.

Mound LA & Morris, DC (2000) Inquilines or kleptoparasites? New phlaeothripine Thysanoptera (Insecta) associated with domicile-building thrips on Acacia trees. Australian Journal of Entomology 39: 130–137.