Generic diagnosis

Medium-sized, brown, macropterous Phlaeothripinae with short terminal setae. Head longer than wide; eyes large; postocular setae short; maxillary stylets retracted to eyes; maxillary bridge arched and wide; mouth cone short, rounded. Antennae 8-segmented; 3 sense cones on III, 4 on IV; segment VIII broad at base. Pronotum notopleural sutures incomplete; posteroangular setae arising close to epimeral setae. Prosternal basantra small; mesopresternum complete, slender, sometimes partly fused to mesoeusternum; metathoracic sternopleural sutures wide and variably long. Mesonotal lateral setae and metanotal median setae moderately developed. Fore tarsal tooth small, curved, arising near apex; hind femora slightly swollen. Fore wings parallel-sided, with duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae arising in a triangle. Pelta elongate, recessed into anterior margin of tergite II; tergites II–VII each with 1 pair of very long, sigmoid wing retaining setae; tergal lateral setae and setae on tergite IX elongate; tube shorter than head, anal setae less than half as long as tube; sternites III–VI with marginal setae short, no longer than discal setae. Male tergite IX S2 setae elongate; sternite VIII with a broad, transverse pore plate; aedeagus not elongate, endotheca with surface tuberculate.

Nomenclatural data

Yarnkothrips Mound & Walker, 1986: 83. Type species Yarnkothrips kolourus Mound & Walker, 1986, by monotypy.

Only one species is placed in this genus.

Australian species
Yarnkothrips kolourus Mound & Walker, 1986: 83

Relationship data

The presence of a maxillary bridge might indicate that this genus is related to some members of the Tribe Haplothripini. However, the curiously arched form of the maxillary bridge, the parallel-sided fore wings, the incomplete notopleural sutures and the broadly eroded metathoracic sternopleural sutures all suggest that it is not closely related to any of the Haplothripini.

Distribution data

Described from New Zealand, the single described species in this genus has been studied from Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, southern New South Wales, Northern Territory (Litchfield) and Norfolk Island. A few specimens that apparently represent further undescribed species with the mesopresternum more complete have been studied from various localities, including New Caledonia.

Biological data

The biology of this species is not known, but more than two individuals are rarely taken together, suggesting that it is possibly predatory rather than fungus-feeding on dead twigs and branches.

References

Mound LA & Dang L-H (2013) New Australian records of Asian or New Zealand Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera). Australian Entomologist 40 (3): 113-117.

Mound LA & Walker AK (1986) Tubulifera (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna of New Zealand 10: 1–140.