Aeolothripidae

This family comprises about 250 species in 27 genera worldwide, and the Australian fauna of 36 species in 2 genera was revised by Mound & Marullo (1998). Within the family, one group of flower-feeding species has very long body setae, and the antennal segments all clearly distinct from each other with a transverse sensory are on segments III & IV. These species are sometimes removed to a separate sub-family or even family, the Melanthripidae, and one Australian example of this group is included here. Other aeolothripids have the setae on the head and pronotum short, and antennal segments VII-IX closely joined and the sensoria on segments III & IV linear. Although some species are always phytophagous, feeding primarily on flower tissues, others, such as Franklinothrips species, are obligate predators and commonly live on the leaves of trees. However, a considerable number of aeolothripids seem to be facultative predators, feeding on either flower tissues or else on the larvae of other thrips as the opportunity arises. One such European species in the genus Aeolothrips is found sometimes in shipments of plants into Australia, and members of the Australian genus Desmothrips are likely to fly onto any flowers that are not totally protected.