Generic diagnosis

Large sized, dark brown Idolothripinae, both sexes macropterous or micropterous, male abdomen with pair of lateral tergal tubercles. Head elongate, genae sinuate, narrowed behind eyes, with one pair of short stout setae behind eyes; one pair of prominent postocellar setae, and 3 pairs of shorter setae on vertex (postocellar, postocular and midvertex); maxillary stylets about one fifth of head width apart, not retracted as far as postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, segment III with 2 sense cones, IV with 4 sense cones; VIII slender with narrow pedicel. Pronotum short, notopleural sutures absent; epimeral setae longer than other 4 pairs of major setae; prosternal basantra present, mesopresternum complete; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Fore tarsus of both sexes without tooth. Fore wing parallel sided with many duplicated cilia. Pelta median lobe transverse, lateral lobes separated; tube slightly shorter than head, with prominent setae laterally. Male abdominal tergite VI laterally with paired drepanae extending beyond segment VII; segment VIII laterally with pair of prominent tubercles; tube constricted in basal third, lateral margins with setae.

Relationships

This is one of 10 genera in the mainly Old World Idolothripina, a subtribe of Tribe Idolothripini in the Idolothripinae. The three species included could equally well be considered as members of Megalothrips. The species in these two genera share most character states, including a long head. Bacillothrips is currently distinguished because the three species have the maxillary stylets less deeply retracted and less close together medially than the members of Megalothrips.

Biology

The species feed on fungal spores on dead branches.

Distribution

Two of the three species placed in this genus are from the warmer parts of Europe, but nobilis occurs from Britain and central Europe as far north as Finland (Gertsson, 2015).

Nomenclature

Bacillothrips Buffa, 1908: 385. Type species Bacillothrips linearis Buffa [synonym of Megalothrips longiceps Reuter], by monotypy.

Only three species are known in this genus (ThripsWiki, 2023).

Euro-Mediterranean species
Bacillothrips bagnalli Mound & Palmer, 1983
Bacillothrips longiceps (Reuter, 1901)
Bacillothrips nobilis (Bagnall, 1909)

References

Gertsson CA (2015) An annotated checklist of Thysanoptera (thrips) from the Nordic countries. Entomologiske Tidskrift 136 (4): 185–198.

Mound LA, Morison GD, Pitkin BR & Palmer JM (1976) Thysanoptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 1 (11): 1–79.