Xyelethrips Mound, 1970

Mound, Laurence A., Tree, Desley J. & Wells, Alice, 2022, Convoluted maxillary stylets among Australian Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae associated mainly with Casuarinaceae trees, Zootaxa 5190 (3), pp. 301-332 : 330

Xyelethrips Mound

Xyelethrips Mound, 1970: 460 .

Type species Pygmaeothrips quadritibia Girault , by monotypy.

The original diagnosis of this genus was based solely on the female holotype of the only known species. Because of the elongate and convoluted stylets, this species was assumed to be associated with Casuarina trees. However, this assumption is probably incorrect, and the species is possibly fungus-feeding on the trunk of trees. The genus is not related to the other genera that are known to live on Casuarina species but shares most structural character states with members of the Plectrothripini ( Okajima 1981) . Antennal segment VIII is long and slender and constricted to a basal neck, and the sensorium on antennal segment II is in the basal half of that segment; there is one sense cone on segment III and two on IV both of which are placed ventrolaterally.

Diagnosis. Macropterous or micropterous Phlaeothripinae with long pointed mouth cone. Head wider at base than across eyes, genae with no prominent setae; eyes with less than 25 facets, postocular setae long and capitate; maxillary stylets very long, retracted to eyes, crossing over medially and with one convolution at base of head; mouth cone extending to mesosternum. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones; II with sensorium on basal half of segment, VIII slender and constricted to base. Pronotum with 5 pairs of major, capitate setae; notopleural sutures complete. Prosternal basantra and mesopresternum not developed; anterior margin of mesosternum eroded; metathoracic sternopleural sutures present. Fore tarsal tooth large. Fore wing parallel-sided, without duplicated cilia, with only one major sub-basal seta; micoptera wing-lobe about 70 microns long. Pelta broadly triangular; tergite II eroded laterally; II–VII each with a single pair of very long, curved wing-retaining setae, microptera without such setae; tergal lateral setae long; tube conical, anal setae short.