Monothrips Moulton

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064 (1), pp. 1-40 : 27-28

Monothrips Moulton

This genus was based on a single female collected at Rabaul, New Britain. However, the same species, M. flavus , has been found widely across Northern Australia, and a second closely related species is described here from the north of Western Australia. Because of the presence of a few microtrichia laterally on the tergal sculpture lines ( Fig. 79 ), Moulton (1940) suggested a relationship to the Sericothripinae , a suggestion that finds no support from any other character states. This genus shares most character states with Masamithrips , but has the maxillary palps with three segments, and the abdominal sternites with a dentate craspedum on the posterior margins. No male is known in this genus.

Key to Monothrips species

1. Craspedum on abdominal tergites II–VI very finely toothed medially, strongly toothed laterally ( Fig. 79 ); craspeda on sternites with long teeth laterally but rounded lobes medially ( Fig. 78 ).............................................. flavus

-. Craspedum on abdominal tergites II–VI toothed across full width, but most strongly toothed laterally ( Fig. 77 ); craspeda on sternites with long pointed teeth medially as well as laterally ( Fig. 76 )................................... cuspis sp.n.

Figures

FIGURES 76 – 85. Grass living Thripinae. Monothrips cuspis 76 – 77: (76) sternites V – VII; (77) tergites VI – VIII. Monothrips flavus 78 – 79: (78) sternites V – VII; (79) tergites VI – VIII. (80) Stenchaetothrips bambusicola, head & thorax. Stenchaetothrips biformis 81 – 83: (81) antenna; (82) tergites VI – VIII; (83) head. Sten. bambusicola 84 - 85: (84) female sternites V-VII; (85) tergites VI – VIII.