Figures

Fig. 1 Antenna and head (dorsal)
Fig. 2 Pronotum
Fig. 3 Meso- and metanotum
Fig. 4 Fore and hind wing
Fig. 5 Pleurotergite III and tergite VIII 
Fig. 6 Sternite VII

Species

Biology

Recorded as breeding in the flowers of 51 different species of plants, with the adults taken from a further 175 species.

Distribution

Known only from New Zealand.

Recognition

Medium sized thrips, commonly pale to dark brown but sometimes yellowish; forewing brown with base pale; antennal segment III sometimes paler brown than remaining segments. Antennae 7- or 8-segmented, sense cone on III & IV forked and slender. Head with no setae in front of fore ocellus, one pair on anterior margins of ocellar triangle. Pronotum with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae. Metanotum with transverse lines of sculpture at anterior but longitudinally and closely striate on posterior half; median setae near anterior margin. Forewing first and second veins usually with setal rows complete. Tergite II with 3 lateral marginal setae; V-VIII with ctenidia laterally, on VIII posteromesad of spiracle; posteromarginal comb on tergite VIII irregular and variable in length. Sternites and pleurotergites with an irregular median row of discal setae.

Related species

Amongst the 280 species of the genus Thrips, this species has most characters in common with three other species from New Zealand.