Two new monobasic thrips genera for a gall-inducing species and its kleptoparasite (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae)

Abstract

Drypetothrips korykis gen. et sp.n. is described as inducing leaf-margin galls on a small tree in Australia, Drypetes deplanchei [Putranjivaceae]. This thrips is similar in appearance to the smaller species of the genus Kladothrips that induce galls on Acacia species. The galls are invaded by a phytophagous kleptoparasitic thrips, Pharothrips hynnis gen. et sp.n., females of which have a forked plough-like structure protruding ventrally on the frons that is unique amongst Thysanoptera.

Host-plant relationships of gall-inducing Thysanoptera – the lack of patterns

“…In Australia, kleptoparasitic thrips species in the genera Koptothrips and Turmathrips are known to invade the galls induced by Kladothrips species on various species of Acacia (Crespi et al, 2004). Similarly, Pharothrips is a kleptoparasitic invader of Drypetothrips korykis galls on the leaves of Drypetes deplanchei [Putranjivaceae] (Mound & Wells, 2020;Fig. 2C).…”

Eurynothrips Bagnall (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae): a rare and long-lost Australian genus, with one new gall-inducing species

“…This referred to the "ventral spine-like projection of the frons" that Bagnall had overlooked originally on the card-mounted specimens but to which he referred in a subsequent publication (Bagnall 1932). In describing a new species below, a revised diagnosis of the genus is provided, particularly in order to compare it with the recently described Pharothrips Mound & Wells (2020). The only species in that genus is different in its biology from the gall-inducing Eurynothrips, being considered a kleptoparasite of a gall-inducing thrips on Drypetes deplanchei [Putranjivaceae].…”