MEROTHRIPIDAE

Mound, Laurence A. & Wells, Alice, 2015, Endemics and adventives: Thysanoptera (Insecta) biodiversity of Norfolk, a tiny Pacific Island, Zootaxa 3964 (2), pp. 183-210 : 189

MEROTHRIPIDAE

http://www.ozthrips.org/terebrantia/ merothripidae /

Species in this family are minute and rarely collected. They live on dead wood and in leaf litter, feeding on fungus, and most species are described from the Neotropics ( Mound & O’Neill 1974).

Merothrips brunneus Ward : Described from New Zealand, this species is also known from eastern Australia. Similar in structure to the worldwide floridensis , it is generally darker, with more protuberant eyes each comprising 10–12 facets, and the sensorium on antennal segment III is small and circular. Samples including both sexes have been taken on dead branches with lichens in the National Park on Red Road and Bird Rock Track, and also in the Mission Road forest and 100 Acre Reserve.

Merothrips floridensis Watson : Widespread around the world, apterous females of this species are distinguished from apterae of brunneus by their paler colour, more reduced compound eyes usually with only 7–9 facets, and a sensorium on antennal segment III that is clearly transverse not circular. Specimens have been taken from dead branches at several sites on Norfolk Island, including Highland Lodge, Prince Philip Drive, 100 Acre Reserve, and Mt Pitt.