Carientothrips horni sp. n.

(Figs 10, 24, 37)

Female microptera. Body, head and femora uniformly brown, tibiae and tarsi paler, tube paler apically; antennal segments III–VIII progressively darker (Fig. 24).

Head longer than wide, weakly projecting in front of eyes, weakly reticulate (Fig. 10); posterior ocelli small; postocellar and postocular setae weakly capitate; compound eyes smaller ventrally than dorsally; maxillary stylets more than 0.3 of head width apart, retracted up to almost posterior margin of eyes (Fig. 10); maxillary palp segment I slightly longer than wide, segment II twice as long as I, without transverse lines, terminal sensorium stout. Antennal segment VIII not narrowed to base (Fig. 24).

Pronotum transverse, reticulate only near margins, notopleural sutures incomplete (Fig. 10); all 5 pairs of major setae well-developed, capitate; mesopresternum transverse; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long and curved. Metanotum with about 3–5 minor setae anteromedially, median setae wide apart, slender and acute (Fig. 37). Fore femora not enlarged, fore tarsal tooth absent. Fore wing represented by small lobe, with 2 capitate subbasal setae.

Pelta extending across 90% of tergite II anterior margin, rounded median lobe with broad lateral lobes (Fig. 37), campaniform sensilla absent; tergal wing-retaining setae small and straight; tergite IX setae S1 blunt, S2 capitate, S3 acute. Tube shorter than head. Sternites with median transverse row about 10 small discal setae, posteromarginal setae small and arising in front of margin.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 2500. Head, length 300; width 230; postocellar setae 60; po setae 75. Pronotum, length 170; width 290; major setae am 45, aa 55, ml 60, epim 65, pa 75. Fore wing, length 50; sub-basal setae 30, 40. Tergite IX setae S1 130, S2 125. Tube length 155. Antennal segments III–VIII length 85, 95, 85, 70, 60, 25.

Male: not known.

Specimens studied. Holotype female. Australia, Queensland, Horn Island, from dead Dianella, 20.xi.2009 (LAM5334).

Paratypes all from Queensland: one female taken with holotype; Townsville, Harvey Range, 1 female from grass, 14.vii.1995 .

Comments. This species shares with three others two unusual character states: presence of several small setae anteromedially on the metanotum, and incomplete notopleural sutures. In the other members of the genus considered here, the notopleural sutures are fully complete although in the holotype of magnetis these sutures are only just complete, and in one of the available specimens of pictilis one of the sutures is not quite complete.