Thrips bianchii (Sakimura)

Mound, Laurence A. & Masumoto, Masami, 2005, The genus Thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) in Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand, Zootaxa 1020 (1), pp. 1-64 : 19

Thrips bianchii (Sakimura)

Taeniothrips (Isochaetothrips) bianchii Sakimura, 1969: 77

Diagnosis: Body brown, tibiae, tarsi and antennal segment III paler; forewing banded, pale at base and apex with median brown area variably paler medially. Antennae 8­segmented; ocellar setae III arise outside ocellar triangle. Pronotum with weak sculpture lines, postero­angular setae long. Metanotum reticulate ( Fig. 10) but without internal markings, median setae arising behind anterior margin, campaniform sensilla present. Forewing first vein with complete row of setae; clavus with sub­terminal seta longer than terminal seta ( Fig. 11). Abdominal tergite II with 4 lateral setae, VIII with marginal comb of few and irregular microtrichia; sternite II with 6 marginal setae ( Fig. 12), sternites without discal setae.

Breeding: Possibly polyphagous, this species has been found in large numbers in the white flowers of Psychotria sp. (Rubiaceae) and Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) .

Distribution: Endemic to New Caledonia.

Relationships: The presence of three pairs of marginal setae on the second abdominal sternite is a character state shared only with five New Zealand species and two other species from New Caledonia. These eight species are referred to as the Thrips obscuratus group ( Mound, 2005).