Bregmatothrips Hood

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064 (1), pp. 1-40 : 15-40

Bregmatothrips Hood

With one new synonym recognised below, together with one newly described species, this genus now includes a total of nine species, all of which apparently breed on grass leaves. Four described species are currently considered synonyms of the type species, B. venustus . These are all from the southern Nearctic, and venustus is one of only two species in the genus that has a single dorso-apical seta on the first antennal segment. In contrast the other seven members of the genus all have two setae in this position. These seven are all from the Old World: one is from southern Europe, with others described from Iran, Egypt, Cape Verde Islands, and South Africa, also two from Asia of which one is known from tropical Australia. Bhatti (1984) distinguished two groups among the members of this genus, but the new species described below includes character states from both of these groups. No key to identify the members of this genus is available, therefore a key to world species is provided here as an Appendix (page 40).

Key to species of Bregmatothrips from Australia

1. Antennae 8-segmented, segment IV with sensorium forked; both sexes macropterous, body brown, legs largely brown, antennal segments III–V yellow........................................................................ binervis

-. Antennae 7-segmented (rarely 8), segment IV with sensorium simple; female macropterous, body brown, tibiae and antennal segments III–V yellow; male micropterous, legs, antennal segments I–V and most of body yellow with abdominal segments VI–X dark brown.......................................................................... australis sp.n.

Appendix: Key to world species of Bregmatothrips

1. Antennae 7-segmented................................................................................ 2

-. Antennae 8-segmented................................................................................ 3

2. Antennal segments III–IV with sensorium simple........................................... australis sp.n. [in part]

-. Antennal segments III–IV with sensorium forked........................................... furcatus & willcocksi 1

3. Female sternite VII setae arise sub-marginally............................................................. 4

-. Female sternite VII setae arise at margin.................................................................. 5

4. Antennae with sensoria forked..................................................................... binervis

-. Antennal sensoria simple............................................................. australis sp.n. [in part]

5. Antennal segment I with only one dorso-apical seta......................................................... 6

-. Antennal segment I with 2 dorso-apical setae.............................................................. 7

6. Male micropterous, bicoloured, female macropterous, brown,........................................... venustus

-. Both sexes macropterous, uniformly brown with pale wings.............................................. piceus 2

7. Legs clear yellow; thorax largely yellow, head and at least posterior abdominal segments brown................ bournieri

-. At least femora brown; female with thorax brown, male with thoracic segments extensively yellow.................................................................................................. dimorphus & brachycephalus 3