Cartomothrips Stannard

Mound, Laurence A., Dang, Li-Hong & Tree, Desley J., 2013, Genera of fungivorous Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera) from dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia, Zootaxa 3681 (3), pp. 201-224 : 209

Cartomothrips Stannard

This genus now includes 12 species, all from Australia or New Zealand, and these seem to breed particularly within the dry fruiting capsules of various Myrtaceae , particularly Eucalyptus and Leptospermum species ( Mound & Walker 2012). However, it remains unclear if these thrips and their larvae feed on fungi or on the old seeds.

Diagnosis. Macropterous, body, legs and antennae brown; head longer than wide, cheeks weakly convex, with few weak setae; postocular setae wide apart far from eyes; maxillary stylets about one fifth of head width apart, retracted almost to eyes; antennae 8 -segmented, III and IV each with 3 stout sensoria; pronotum short medially, notopleural sutures complete, anteromarginal setae short; metanotum reticulate. Fore tarsus with prominent tooth; fore wing parallel sided, with about 12 duplicated cilia; prosternal basantra not developed, mesopraesternum reduced to two lateral triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long and curved. Pelta triangular; tergites II –VII each with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae shorter than tube; male sternite VIII with transverse pore plate.