Zootaxa 3064: 1–40 (2011) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2011 · Magnolia Press ISSN1175-5334(online edition) Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia LAURENCE A. MOUND CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, PO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601. E-mail: [email protected] Table of contents Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 The diversity of grass thrips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Grass-living Thripidae in Australia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Feeding sites and host associations of grass-dependent Thripidae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Supra-generic relationships among grass-living Thripinae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Key to Thripidae genera with species dependent on Poaceae in Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Aliceathrips gen.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Key to Aliceathrips species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Aliceathrips australiensis (Girault) comb.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Aliceathrips engaius sp.n.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Aliceathrips mnestes sp.n.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Aliceathrips palmeri sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Aliceathrips sorghi sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Anaphothrips Uzel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Apterothrips Bagnall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Aptinothrips Haliday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Arorathrips Bhatti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Bolacothrips Uzel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Key to Bolacothrips species from Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Bolacothrips pulcher (Girault) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Bolacothrips striatopennatus (Schmutz). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Bregmatothrips Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Key to species of Bregmatothrips from Australia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Bregmatothrips binervis (Kobus) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Bregmatothrips australis sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Caliothrips Daniel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Caprithrips Faure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Chirothrips Haliday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Edissa Faure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Exothrips Priesner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Exothrips sacchari (Moulton). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Karphothrips Mound & Walker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Kranzithrips gen.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Kranzithrips mareebai sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Limothrips Haliday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Masamithrips gen.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Key to Masamithrips species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Masamithrips geikiei sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Masamithrips masamii sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Masamithrips melinus sp.n.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Masamithrips tanyoeikus sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Masamithrips williei sp.n.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Masamithrips wyndhami sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Monothrips Moulton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Key to Monothrips species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Monothrips cuspis sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Accepted by J. Martin: 28 Sep. 2011; published: 20 Oct. 2011 1 Monothrips flavus Moulton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Moundothrips Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Odontothripiella Bagnall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Organothrips Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Ozanaphothrips Mound & Masumoto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Parexothrips Priesner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Parexothrips palumai sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Phibalothrips Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Physemothrips Stannard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Plesiothrips Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Stenchaetothrips Bagnall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Key to Stenchaetothrips species from Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Stenchaetothrips bambusicola sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Stenchaetothrips indicus (Ramakrishna & Margabandhu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Striathrips gen.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Striathrips sulcatus sp.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Takethrips Nonaka & Jangvitaya. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Takethrips megas Nonaka & Jangvitaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Appendix: Key to world species of Bregmatothrips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Abstract The diversity of Thysanoptera associated with grasses worldwide is discussed. Associations between thrips and members of the Poaceae have evolved independently in three thrips families. In Australia, almost 70 species of Thripidae are re- corded as specific to Poaceae. Most of these thrips breed only on leaves, with 10 species in four genera breeding in grass florets, and a very few species feeding on both leaf and flower tissues. An identification key is provided to 28 genera of Thripidae found in Australia and known to be fully dependent on Poaceae, including four new genera of Thripinae with 16 new species. The new taxa are: Aliceathripsgen.n., A. mnestessp.n.,A. engaiussp.n.,A. palmerisp.n.,A. sorghisp.n. Bregmatothrips australissp.n. Kranzithrips mareebaigen. & sp.n. Masamithripsgen.n., M. masamii sp.n., M. geikiei sp.n.,M. melinussp.n., M. tanyoeikus sp.n.,M. willieisp.n.,M. wyndhamisp.n.Monothrips cuspissp.n.Parexothrips palumai sp.n. Stenchaetothrips bambusicola sp.n. Striathrips sulcatus gen. & sp.n. One nomenclatural change is Al- iceathrips australiensis (Girault) comb.n. transferred from Bolacothrips. The following five species are newly recorded from Australia: Bolacothrips striatopennatus (Schmutz), Bregmatothrips binervis (Kobus) [with Bregmatothrips saccha- ricolus (Bianchi) as a new synonym], Exothrips sacchari (Moulton), Stenchaetothrips indicus (Ramakrishna & Mar- gabandhu) [with Stenchaetothrips brasiliensis(Hood) as a new synonym],Takethripsmegas Nonaka & Jangvitaya. Key words: Poaceae, Thripinae, new genera, new species Introduction The relationship between the species richness of a plant family and the number of phytophagous insects that exploit members of that family as hosts is far from linear. At plant family level, the host associations of the insect Order Thysanoptera exhibit little obvious pattern. For example, among the 5,500 species of Thysanoptera, scarcely 30 species, all but one of which are Thripidae, are associated with the Orchidacae, a family of 18,500 species (Mab- berley, 1997). In contrast, the 18,000 species of Fabaceae support two extensive radiations - flower-living Thripi- dae in the Megalurothrips genus-group (Xie et al., 2010), and foliage-feeding Phlaeothripidae particularly on Acacia (Crespi et al., 2004). The largest plant family, the Asteraceae with 23,000 species, supports many unrelated flower-thrips species, including two substantial radiations - the Frankliniella minuta group (Thripidae) in South America (Mound & Marullo, 1996), and Haplothrips (Phlaeothripidae) in the Holarctic (Minaei & Mound, 2008). In contrast, the Poaceae includes only 9,000 species, half the number recognised in the Orchidaceae, but at least 300 species of thrips are fully dependent on grasses and bamboos, and these represent more than 10% of all phy- tophagous Thysanoptera. 2 · Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press MOUND Among Thysanoptera, the grass-living habit has evolved independently in three different families, and grasses provide four distinct habitats that have been exploited by thrips. Some thrips species breed only in grass florets, where larvae and adults feed mainly on developing ovules. A second habitat, and one that is exploited by a far larger diversity of thrips species, is provided by the tissues of young leaves. These two habitats are usually quite distinct, with only a few species feeding on both floret and on leaf tissues. However, not all thrips species for which grasses and bamboos provide the sole breeding habitat are phytophages. Associated with the bases of grasses is a series of fast-running predatory thrips species, presumably feeding primarily on mites. The fourth habitat associ- ated with grasses is provided by fungi that live in grass tussocks, and this is exploited by a suite of specialist fun- gus-feeding thrips. It is this adaptation to a range of micro-habitats that makes the association between thrips and Poaceae so interesting. Moreover, in addition to the thrips that are fully dependent on grasses, a few polyphagous species sometimes breed on these plants, such as Thrips tabaci. However, most polyphagous thrips are probably unable to maintain viable populations on grasses, as has been demonstrated by Sharma et al. (2011) for the Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. If host-plant relationships are considered within an evolutionary context, then it is necessary to distinguish between those plants that provide an essential breeding site for an insect species, and plants from which adults only have been collected. Thus it is critical to distinguish those thrips species that are adapted to and dependent on grasses for breeding, from thrips for which grasses provide merely an occasional feeding resource or even just a place to shelter – however important this might be to the life of an individual. Long lists of species collected from grasses with no evidence of any real dependency, such as the 46 Thripidae listed by Ananthakrishnan & Sen (1980), actually confound recognition of patterns of host plant exploitation. The study presented here is concerned solely with taxa of the family Thripidae found in Australia that are considered to be fully dependent on Poaceae; the many other species that can be found associated more casually with grasses are not considered. Some of the taxa discussed here are introduced, from Europe, Africa and South America. Others have natural ranges across Asia into tropical Australia, although many are endemic to the Australian continent. The first purpose of this paper is to emphasise the importance of grasses to the Thysanoptera diversity of Aus- tralia, and to provide an introduction and means of identifying the 28 genera of Thripidae involved. The second purpose is to describe four new genera and 16 new species in preparation for a web-based identification and infor- mation system to the Terebrantia of Australia (Mound, Paris et al., 2011). Extended descriptions of taxa, also keys to species, are given here only where these are not available in the published literature. Full nomenclatural details of all Thysanoptera taxa are web-available (Mound, 2011), and a full checklist of Australian Thysanoptera is simi- larly provided (ABRS, 2011). Holotypes of the new species described here are deposited in the Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra. The diversity of grass thrips Of the three families of Thysanoptera that include grass thrips, the Aeolothripidae includes the fewest species spe- cific in their biology to Poaceae. Aeolothripids associated with grasses are fast-running, wasp-like predators, living at the base of grasses and presumably feeding on mites. Within the Aeolothripidae this behaviour and habitus has evolved independently several times, including species of Stomatothrips in the Americas (Mound & Marullo, 1996), Gelothrips and Desmothrips in Australia (Pereyra & Mound, 2010), and several distantly related Aeolo- thrips species in Europe and North America (zur Strassen, 2003; Hoddle et al., 2008). A far wider range of grass- living thrips species are members of the family Phlaeothripidae. The large genus Haplothrips occurs on all conti- nents, and includes species that breed in the inflorescences of grasses (Minaei & Mound, 2008). Podothrips is a group of coccid predators living on grasses and bamboos (Mound & Minaei, 2007), and Bamboosiella is another genus of grass thrips with species that are probably predatory (Okajima, 2006). No leaf-feeding Phlaeothripidae are known to breed on grasses, but spore-feeding thrips of the sub-family Idolothripinae occur commonly at the base of grass tussocks, including genera such as Bolothrips,Carientothrips and Nesothrips (Mound, 1974). Moreover, fun- gus-feeding Phlaeothripinae that are usually associated with leaf litter can also be found at the base of grass tus- socks, and some species, such as those of the Australian genus Apostlethrips, are possibly specific to this habitat (Mound & Minaei, 2006). The largest diversity of Thysanoptera species that are dependent on grasses occurs in the family Thripidae. However, of the four Thripidae subfamilies, no Sericothripinae are known to be dependent on grasses (Mound & AUSTRALIAN GRASS-DEPENDENT THRIPIDAE Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 3 Tree, 2009); among Dendrothripinae only the two species of Edissa breed on grasses (Mound, 1999); whereas among Panchaetothripinae several species breed only on these plants, particularly some in the genus Caliothrips (Mound, Paris et al., 2011). It is amongst the Thripinae that extensive radiations onto Poaceae have occurred. Spe- cies of Aptinothrips and Limothrips, although Holarctic in origin are now widespread in temperate regions around the world. Chirothrips is a large genus with most species Holarctic in origin, but with smaller numbers endemic to Africa and South America, and Arorathrips is a related genus of Neotropical species. Only a few endemic grass- living Thripidae have been recorded from South America, including species of the genus Plesiothrips, a few spe- cies of Frankliniella, and possibly Prionotothrips (Mound & Marullo, 1996). The Afro-tropical fauna remains very poorly known, but in Asia there are several endemic species on Poaceae. These include the widely distributed Priesneriola oneillae, all members of the genera Bolacothrips, Bregmatothrips and Stenchaetothrips, as well as a series of genera on bamboo species in Thailand and Malaysia (Mound & Ng, 2009), including Takethrips megas that is here recorded from Australia. Grass-living Thripidae in Australia Over much of southern temperate Australia pastures are dominated by imported grasses. In such areas the dominant grass-living Thripidae are species of Aptinothrips, Chirothrips and Limothrips, all introduced from Europe, also more rarely Apterothrips that presumably came from the west coast of North America (Hoddle et al., 2008). In con- trast, Australian native Poaceae in southern Australia support one species of Caprithrips, and three species of Odontothripiella, all endemic to Australia. Karphothrips breeds only on the leaves of the native sword-grass Gah- nia (Cyperaceae), and Moundothrips lives either on Poaceae or Restionaceae. Physemothrips is found only much further south, on grasses in the Antarctic Islands. In the warmer parts of Australia, widespread introduced grasses such as Buffel Grass, Cenchrus ciliaris, usu- ally bear New World species of the genera Arorathrips and Plesiothrips. These thrips species now occur throughout the tropics and subtropics, and they are commonly found together with species such as Anaphothripssudanensis,A. obscurus, and A. swezeyi. The introduced tropical grasses also support species of Caliothrips, Edissa, Phibalot- hrips and Stenchaetothrips, all of which presumably originated in the Old World tropics. Certainly, there is consid- erable overlap between the thrips fauna of northern Australia and that of Indonesia and Southeast Asia (Mound & Tree, 2011). But it is on the native grasses of northern Australia that the greatest diversity of endemic grass thrips is found, with species of Aliceathrips, Kranzithrips, Masamithrips, Monothrips, Ozanaphothrips and Striathrips known only from Australia. In contrast, the genera Bolacothrips,Bregmatothrips,Exothrips,Monothrips,Organo- thrips, Parexothrips, Stenchaetothrips and Takethrips all occur in other tropical countries, despite including some species that are presumed to be endemic to Australia. This thrips fauna of northern Australia is particularly com- plex, and the patterns of structural variation between populations are not yet fully understood, particularly in Aliceathrips and Masamithrips. Feeding sites and host associations of grass-dependent Thripidae Most of the grass-living Thripidae species considered here breed only on the leaves of their hosts. Some of these, such as Anaphothrips obscurus, cause feeding damage in the form of linear markings on leaves. Feeding and breed- ing in such species seems to be associated largely with newly emerged, young leaves. Of the thrips that occur in the florets of Poaceae, Arorathrips and Chirothrips species are specific to this habitat, with each larva developing in its own individual floret. Also breeding specifically within grass florets are three species of Odontothripiella. Further- more,Plesiothrips perplexus presumably lays its eggs within florets, judging from the weak, non-serrate ovipositor of females. The biology of Takethrips species remains unknown, other than being associated with bamboos, but the ovipositor of T. megas is very weak and lacks serrations, similar to that of Plesiothrips species. Such an ovipositor could not be used to insert an egg into plant tissues, and T. megas presumably deposits its eggs within the florets of its bamboo host. Limothrips species are unusual amongst the grass-dependent thrips, in that although they feed and breed on young leaves, adults and larvae will also move to the florets where they feed on and cause damage to the developing embryo. 4 · Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press MOUND The precise host associations of grass thrips are determined infrequently, most host records being limited to the statement “grasses”. Despite this, in the experience of the present author during extensive field work across Austra- lia, grass thrips that are endemic to Australia are found associated almost exclusively with endemic grass species. Thus the species of Odontothripiella that breed in grass florets are associated with Danthonia,Stipa, and Themeda. Species of the indigenous genera Aliceathrips, Masamithrips, Karphothrips and Monothrips, also Caprithrips moundi and Brematothripsaustralis, all of which breed on leaves, are associated with native grasses including the genera Chrysopogon,Poa, and Stipa, and the sword grass, Gahnia (Cyperaceae). In contrast, introduced thrips spe- cies are associated with non-native grasses: Arorathrips mexicanus is common in the florets of Buffel Grass, Cenchrusciliaris;Chirothripsmanicatus breeds in the florets of Dactylis and Phalaris;Bolacothripsstriatopenna- tus appears to be associated with the soft, broad leaves of Paspalum; Aptinothrips rufus is particularly catholic in its tastes with adults being found on many non-native grass species. The sharp separation in host associations between native and introduced thrips species has a major effect on thrips diversity in the extensive areas of exotic grass species across Australia. Buffel Grass is now widespread across the north of Australia, and native grass thrips are effectively excluded from the resultant grassland commu- nity. Similarly, in the south of the continent, the vast areas of introduced grasses, such as Dactylis, Lolium, and Phalaris, do not provide a habitat for Australian endemic thrips. Unfortunately, there are no serious studies on these ecological relationships. Supra-generic relationships among grass-living Thripinae The supra-generic classification of Thysanoptera is by no means satisfactory. Many groups have been proposed, but few have any sound phylogenetic basis. Within the Thripidae four subfamilies are currently recognised, Panchaetothripinae, Dendrothripinae, Sericothripinae and Thripinae, although even the recognition of these remains contentious (Bhatti, 2006). Within the Thripinae various groups have been named, but none of them is sat- isfactorily defined. Chirothrips and Limothrips have been placed together in a group called the Chirothripini, but this is not defined by any synapomorphies. Similarly, the Aptinothripina was proposed to include a range of Thrip- inae that lack elongate pronotal setae, although this character state is clearly homoplasious. Among the Thripinae discussed in this paper, the members of several endemic genera share certain character states that possibly indicate some level of phylogenetic relationship. For example, the presence of one or more pairs of setae on the prosternal basantra is an unusual character state that is shared by one or more species of Caprithrips, Exothrips, Karpho- thrips, Kranzithrips, Masamithrip, Monothrips, and Organothrips, but not by any species of Aliceathrips. The absence of a discal seta on the fore wing clavus is another unusual character state shared by species in the genera Aliceathrips,Masamithrips,Karphothrips and Monothrips, but not by the species in Kranzithrips. The presence of paired campaniform sensilla close to the tergal posterior margin is shared by species of Aliceathrips, Bregmato- thrips, Karphothrips, Kranzithrips and Monothrips. However, this latter character state also occurs in some other Poaceae-dependent thrips, including Aptinothrips and Apterothrips, and is possibly related to the shared host asso- ciation rather than an indication of relationships. Key to Thripidae genera with species dependent on Poaceae in Australia 1. Female with sternite VII posteromarginal setal pairs S1 & S2 arising closer to each other than to setal pair S3 (Fig. 40). . . . .2 -. Sternite VII pairs of posteromarginal setae arising equidistant from each other (Figs 10, 36) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2. Prosternum with no setae; prosternal ferna complete medially; ocellar setae pair III arising within triangle (Fig. 38). Exothrips -. Prosternum with 2 or more setae, prosternal ferna divided medially (Fig. 44); ocellar setae pair III arising outside triangle (Fig. 39) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Parexothrips 3. Pronotum with no long setae at posterior angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 -. Pronotum with at least one pair of prominent posteroangular setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 4. Wings absent, or reduced to lobes no longer than width of thorax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 -. Wings fully developed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 5. Prosternum with one or more pairs of setae (Fig. 45). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caprithrips -. Prosternum without any setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6. Abdominal sternites with transverse row of discal setae (cf Fig. 10). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 -. Abdominal sternites with no discal setae (cf Fig. 36). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 7. Antennae 6-segmented; tarsi 1-segmented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aptinothrips AUSTRALIAN GRASS-DEPENDENT THRIPIDAE Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 5 -. Antennae 8-segmented; tarsi 2-segmented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ozanaphothrips [part] 8. Abdominal sternites III–VI posterior margins with craspedum deeply lobed between marginal setae . . . . . . . . . . .Apterothrips -. Abdominal sternites III–VI with no craspedum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 9. Body dark brown, strongly reticulate; antennae 7-segmented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Moundothrips -. Body variable, yellow to brown, never strongly reticulate; antennae 8- or 9-segmented, segment VI sometimes with incomplete suture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anaphothrips [in part] 10. Antennae 7-segmented; fore wings without prominent setae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 -. Antennae 8- or 9-segmented; fore wings with setae on veins including costa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 11. Body colour pale yellow, including antennal segments I – V; metathoracic endofurca elongate lyre-shaped . . . . . . . . . .Edissa -. Head and thorax dark brown, strongly reticulate, abdomen golden; metathoracic endofurca transverse . . . . . . . .Phibalothrips 12. Body dark brown; head and pronotum reticulate with markings inside the reticles; hind coxae internally with prominent coiled apodeme; metathoracic endofurca elongate lyre-shaped. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caliothrips -. Body colour various, yellow or brown or bicoloured; reticulation, when present, without internal markings; hind coxae inter- nally without a coiled apodeme; metathoracic endofurca transverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 13. Abdominal sternites with transverse row of discal setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ozanaphothrips [part] -. Abdominal sternites with no discal setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 14. Ocellar setae I absent; antennal segments III & IV with sensorium simple; metanotum with complex sculpture lines (Fig. 90); ovipositor weak, not serrate (Fig. 91); metapre-episternum broadly band-like . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Takethrips -. Ocellar setae I present; antennal segment IV with sensorium forked, III with sensorium sometimes simple; metanotum with reticulate sculpture; ovipositor serrate; metapre-episternum slender and tapering laterally. . . . . . . . . . . .Anaphothrips [in part] 15. Tergites V–VII with paired ctenidia laterally (Figs 30, 82) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 -. Tergites V–VII without paired lateral ctenidia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 16. Antennal segments III–IV with sensoria simple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bolacothrips -. Antennal segments III–IV with sensoria forked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stenchaetothrips 17. Female abdominal tergite X with pair of stout thorn-like setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Limothrips -. Female abdominal tergite X without such setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 18. Sensorium on antennal segment III simple, on IV usually simple but rarely forked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 -. Sensorium forked on antennal segments III and IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 19. Prosternal basantra with 1 or more pairs of setae (Fig. 58). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 -. Prosternum without any setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 20. Fore tibia inner apex with broadly flattened or bifurcate seta; head strongly prolonged in front of eyes; ocellar setae pair I absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Organothrips -. Fore tibia inner apex without modified seta; head scarcely prolonged in front of eyes; ocellar setae pair I present . . . . . . . .21 21. Abdominal tergites with no craspedum including segment VIII (Fig. 46); sternites with no discal setae . . . . . . . .Karphothrips -. Tergites II–VIII with broad craspedum on posterior margin (Figs 47, 62); sternites with or without row of discal setae . . . .22 22. Abdominal sternites II–VI posterior margin with craspedum of five broad lobes (Fig. 49); ocellar setae I absent; fore wing cla- vus with discal seta present; sternites with no discal setae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kranzithripsgen.n. -. Abdominal sternites II–VI posterior margin either with dentate craspedum or with no craspedum; ocellar setae I present; fore wing clavus with no discal seta; sternites with transverse row of discal setae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 23. Abdominal sternites with dentate craspedum (Figs 76, 78); maxillary palps 3-segmented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monothrips -. Abdominal sternites with no craspedum (Fig. 60); maxillary palps 2-segmented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Masamithripsgen.n. 24. Fore wing clavus with no discal seta (Fig. 13); sternites with transverse row of discal setae (Figs 10, 17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 -. Fore wing clavus with discal seta (Fig. 35); sternites without discal setae (Fig. 36) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 25. Body and legs yellow; pronotum with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae (Figs 1, 5); mesothoracic furca usually without spinula; metanotum without campaniform sensilla (Fig. 1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aliceathripsgen.n. -. Body brown or bicoloured; pronotum with one pair of small posteroangular setae; mesothoracic furca with short spinula; metanotal campaniform sensilla present or absent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ozanaphothrips [part] 26. Pronotum weakly trapezoidal, head not unusually small (Fig. 31); antennal segment II symmetrical; tergal campaniform sen- silla close to posterior margin (Fig. 33); metapre-episternum transversely band-like; female macropterous dark brown; male sometimes bicoloured, macropterous or micropterous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bregmatothrips -. Pronotum strongly trapezoidal, much larger than head (Fig. 23); antennal segment II often strongly asymmetric and prolonged laterally; tergal campaniform sensilla distant from posterior margin; metapre-episternum scarcely prolonged laterally; female macropterous, brown, sometimes bicoloured when teneral; male apterous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 27. Mesothoracic furca T-shaped with broad lateral flanges, invaginations close together near mid-line (Fig. 25) . . . . Chirothrips -. Mesothoracic furca weak, without broad lateral flanges, invaginations widely separated (Fig. 24) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arorathrips 28. Fore tibial apex with 2 claws, rarely with one; sensorium on antennal segment VI with greatly enlarged, broadly oval base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Odontothripiella -. Fore tibia without an apical claw; sensorium on antennal segment VI with circular base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 29. Fully apterous, head with no ocelli; tergite IX with 2 pairs of stout setae [Macquarie Island] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Physemothrips -. Macropterous, rarely micropterous; setae on tergite IX slender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 30. Abdominal tergites II–VII with no craspedum; tergites with little sculpture; female with ovipositor valves weakly sclerotised and not serrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Plesiothrips -. Abdominal tergites II–VII with lobed craspedum and many transverse striae (Fig. 96); female with ovipositor valves strongly sclerotised and serrate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Striathripsgen.n. 6 · Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press MOUND Aliceathrips gen.n. (Figs 1–22) Diagnosis. Macropterous Thripinae. Antennae 7- or 8-segmented, segment I with no dorso-apical setae, sensoria on III–IV simple, (forked on IV in engaius); segments II–III with few or no microtrichia. Head projecting conically in front of eyes, cheeks almost parallel; compound eyes with 5 pigmented facets; ocellar setae pair I present, pair III arising between anterior margins of posterior ocelli; maxillary palps 2-segmented (3-segmented in engaius), mouth cone large. Pronotum scarcely wider at posterior than anterior, surface with faint transverse reticulation, dis- cal setae small; with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae, 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae. Prosternal basantra with no setae; ferna continuous medially; spinasternum transverse, meso and meta furca without spinula (mesofurcal spinula present in engaius), mesothoracic sterno-pleural sutures complete; metapre-episternum transverse. Mesonotal anterior campaniform sensilla present, median pair of setae distant from posterior margin. Metanotal sculpture irregularly linear/reticulate on posterior half; median setae near anterior margin, closer to lateral pair than to each other; no campaniform sensilla. Tarsi 2-segmented. Fore wing slender, first vein with 3 widely spaced setae on distal half; second vein with few widely spaced setae; clavus with 4 or 5 veinal setae but no discal seta; posterior fringe wavy. Tergites weakly sculptured medially; II–VIII with craspedum present, campaniform sensilla near pos- terior margin, pleurotergites slender (Fig. 2); IX with 2 pairs of campaniform sensilla, median dorsal setae slender to stout; X with median split complete or incomplete. Sternites with transverse row of discal setae, posterior margin with no craspedum; sternite II with 2 pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with 3 pairs, all arising at margin on VII. Male (where known) with or without transverse pore plate on antecostal area of some median sternites; tergite IX poste- rior margin with pair of stout processes. Type-species Aliceathrips mnestes sp.n. Comments. Species in this genus share many character states with the species in both Masamithrips and Monothrips. From both of these they differ in head shape, with the head larger and the cheeks less narrowed behind the eyes, and in lacking setae on the prosternal basantra. Moreover, in contrast to the species of Masamithrips, the males bear a pair of processes on the posterior margin of the ninth tergite, although pore plates on the antecostal area of the sternites are present or absent in different species. The genus also shares many character states with those of Ozanaphothrips, but the species in that genus lack prominent posteroangular setae on the pronotum. Aliceathrips has been found widely across northern Australia, with only a few specimens known from as far south as northern New South Wales. The genus is named in recognition of the many contributions by Alice Wells to our knowledge of Australian thrips. Key to Aliceathrips species 1. Antennae 7-segmented; male with no pore plates on sternites, tergite IX posterior margin with closely placed pair of long curved processes (Figs 11, 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .mnestessp.n. -. Antennae 8-segmented; male with transverse pore plate on antecostal area of one or more sternites (Fig. 22), tergite IX pro- cesses different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Antennal segment IV with forked sensorium; maxillary palps 3-segmented (Fig. 7); mesothoracic furca with spinula; male sternite III with pore plate; male tergite IX posterior margin with pair of stout black conical processes (Fig. 4) . engaiussp.n. -. Antennal segment IV with sensorium simple; maxillary palps 2-segmented; mesothoracic furca with no spinula; male sternites III–V or VII each with pore plate; male tergite IX posterior margin different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3. Abdominal tergite X and posterior third of IX dark brown; female with tergite IX median dorsal setae stout, arising close to posterior setal pairs (Fig. 20) [male tergite IX posterior margin with paired processes (Fig. 21)]. . . . . . . . . . . . . .palmerisp.n. -. Abdominal tergites IX and X different in colour; female with tergite IX median dorsal setae slender and arising well forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4. Abdominal segments IX and X pale, X sometimes with split incomplete; male tergite IX posterior margin with elongate paired processes (Fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . australiensis -. Abdominal segments IX–X uniformly light brown, with complete split; male tergite IX posterior margin with small setiform processes (Fig. 18). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sorghisp.n. AUSTRALIAN GRASS-DEPENDENT THRIPIDAE Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 7 FIGURES 1–10. Aliceathrips spp. A. australiensis 1–3: (1) head & thorax; (2) tergites V–VIII; (3) male tergites VIII–IX. A. engaius 4–8: (4) male tergites VII–IX; (5) head & thorax; (6) tergites I–III; (7) thoraxic sterna; (8) antenna. A. mnestes 9–10: (9) head; (10) sternites V–VII. 8 · Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press MOUND FIGURES 11–22. Aliceathrips spp. A. mnestes 11–16: (11–12) male tergites VIII–IX; (13) meso & metanota; (14) pronotum; (15) tergites VII–IX; (16) antenna. A. sorghi 17–18: (17) sternites V–VII; (18) male tergites VIII–IX. A. palmeri 19–22: (19) head & thorax; (20) tergites VIII–X; (21) male tergites VIII–IX; (22) male sternites V–VII. AUSTRALIAN GRASS-DEPENDENT THRIPIDAE Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press · 9 Aliceathrips australiensis (Girault) comb.n. (Figs 1–3) Limothrips australiensis Girault, 1928: 3 Pezothrips aureus Girault, 1929: 2 Limothrips formosus Girault, 1929: 2 This species, together with the indicated synonyms, was placed by Mound & Houston (1987) in the genus Bolaco- thrips, but this is clearly incorrect as the tergites lack any ctenidia, and ocellar setae pair I are present. The species was described from a single female collected at Wynnum in northern Brisbane, and that specimen was described as having all the antennal segments missing beyond segment II. On tergite IX, the median marginal setae are shorter than the lateral pair, and the median dorsal setae are slightly stouter with their apices just extending to the posterior margin of the tergite. The single female from which formosus was described was collected at Taringa, Brisbane, and cannot at present be distinguished from the australiensis holotype. The synonymic species, P. aureus, was described from a single female collected on Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane, but this specimen lacks wings and all of the major setae, and the head is crushed and distorted. A. australiensis is possibly a complex of species, in which females differ very little in structure from each other. The processes on the posterior margin of tergite IX of males vary slightly in structure between samples, and females from near Broome, Western Australia, are variable in the length and stoutness of the tergite IX mid-dorsal setae. Specimens that can confidently be considered A. australien- sis have been studied only from eastern Australia, including northern New South Wales, the Brisbane area of Queensland, and central Northern Territory near Alice Springs. Aliceathrips engaius sp.n. (Figs 4–8) Female macroptera. Body and legs yellow, ovipositor and mouth parts dark; fore wing slightly darker on basal half than on distal half; antennal segment I pale, II light brown, III–V yellow with apex light brown, VI–VIII brown. With the character states in the generic diagnosis; antennae 8-segmented (Fig. 8), III with sensorium simple, IV with sensorium forked (inner branch sometimes slender and difficult to see). Ocellar setae III 1.5 times as long as an ocellus (Fig. 5). Pronotal posteroangular setae inner pair much shorter than outer pair; metanotum with weak irregular sculpture (Fig. 5); mesosternal anterior margin with about 12 setae; tergites with transverse reticulation, tergite IX median dorsal setae slender and not extending to posterior margin, posterior pair I equal in length to pair II; X with median split incomplete; sternite II with 0–3 discal setae, III–VII with 4–10 discal setae in an irregular transverse row. Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1550. Head length 150; width across eyes 145; ocel- lar setae III 23. Pronotum, length 150; maximum width 160; pa inner setae 20; pa outer setae 45. Fore wing length 720. Metanotal median setae 15. Tergite IX median-dorsal setae 45; marginal setae S1 115; S2 115. Tergite X setae S1 65. Antennal segments III–VIII length 50, 42, 35, 48, 10, 12. Male macroptera. Smaller and paler than female; tergite IX with pair of stout dark processes (Fig. 4); sternite III with transverse pore plate on antecostal area. Material studied. Holotype female, Northern Territory, Macdonnell Ranges, Standley Chasm, from Triodia hubbardi leaves, 24.iii.2010 (Chris Palmer). Paratypes: 7 females taken with holotype; same locality, date and collector, 2 females from Digitaria brownii leaves, 11 females, 5 males from Neurachne tenuifolia leaves; same locality, 31.x.1999, 1 female, 1 male from Neurachne tenuifolia leaves. Macdonnell Range, Ellery Creek, 2 females beaten from Alectryon oleifolius, 1.xi.1999. Comments. This is the largest species in the genus, with a particularly slender body. It differs from the other species in having the maxillary palps elongate and 3-segmented, the sensoria on the fourth antennal segment forked, and the median dorsal setae on tergite IX of females short and slender. The male has a pore plate only on sternite III, and the paired conical processes on tergite IX are different from those of the males of other species. 10 · Zootaxa 3064 © 2011 Magnolia Press MOUND