Family AEOLOTHRIPIDAE

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Introduction

Currently 24 extant genera are recognised in this family worldwide, with about 185 species, of which 50% are members of the Holarctic genus Aeolothrips (Marullo & Mound 1995, 1998).

The majority of aeolothripid species appear to be faculative predators that feed on flower tissues as well as the larvae of other thrips in flowers (Aeolothrips and Desmothrips). The most advanced members of the family (Franklinothrips and Mymarothrips) are obligate predators and are not associated with flowers (Mound 1972). The Australian fauna currently includes 30 species in 10 genera, and Mound & Marullo (1998) provide identification keys to these taxa. Mound & Reynaud (2005) reviewed the ant mimicking Franklinothrips species.

Diagnosis

Unlike members of the Thripidae, the ovipositor in female aeolothripids is upwardly curved, and the antennae always have nine segments. Most species are large, dark and active thrips, with forewings banded black and white. They differ from melanthripids in lacking any trace of the eighth abdominal sternite, and in having linear sensoria on the third and fourth antennal segments.

General References

Marullo, R. & Mound, L.A. 1995. Su una classificazione sopra-generica della famiglia Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera). Atti XVII Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia 1994: 87-90 [Date published 31/12/1995]

Mound, L.A. 1972. Further studies on Australian Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 11: 37-54 [Date published 31/12/1972]

Mound, L.A. & Marullo, R. 1998. Biology and identification of Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera) in Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 12: 929-950

Mound, L.A. & Reynaud, P. 2005. Franklinothrips; a pantropical Thysanoptera genus of ant-mimicking obligate predatores (Aeolothripidae). Zootaxa 864: 1-16

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