Scirtothrips helenae Palmer & Mound

Hoddle, Mark S. & Mound, Laurence A., 2003, The genus Scirtothrips in Australia (Insecta, Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 268, pp. 1-40 : 22

Scirtothrips helenae Palmer & Mound

[ Figs 35 , 61 ]

Scirtothrips helenae Palmer & Mound, 1983: 514 ­515.

Worldwide, this species is unique in the genus in having the metanotal sculpture transverse over the entire surface. Although not mentioned in the original description, tergite VII has the posteromarginal comb of microtrichia extending medially and sometimes complete, as in S. litotes . The aedeagus of the male has an extensive paired array of spines laterally, much as in S. eremicus . The presence of three pairs of setae in the postocular series suggests that this species is related to S. albomaculatus , and it also resembles that species in lacking drepanae on the ninth tergite of males. S. helenae is recorded only from Brachychiton populneus [ Sterculiaceae ] and on this tree the thrips is often abundant on the youngest leaves that surround the flowers. This is a popular street tree in much of southern Australia, and S. helenae has probably been distributed by the horticultural trade. The thrips may also occur further north on other members of Brachychiton , but the currently available material from Queensland cannot be identified with certainty. The second instar larvae ( Fig. 61 ) have capitate setae and no reticulate sculpture on the pronotum.

Figures

FIGURES 32 ­ 37. Scirtothrips pro­ meso­ and metanota. 32, pilbara; 33, akakia; 34, solus; 35, helenae; 36, drepanofortis; 37, aurantii male hind leg.

FIGURES 58 ­ 63. Scirtothrips second instar larvae, head and pronotum. 58, aurantii; 59, dorsalis; 60, frondis; 61, helenae; 62, tenor; 63, dobroskyi.