Abstract
A key is given to 16 Psalidothrips species known from Australia. In contrast to members of this genus from other parts of the world, most of these species show a strong tendency toward wing loss, with associated character states, also remarkable reduction in sclerotisation of the thoracic sclerites. Character state variation is discussed, and 15 new species are described and illustrated: P. bipictus sp.n., P. brittoni sp.n., P. cecryphalus sp.n., P. daguilari sp.n., P. driesseni sp.n., P. gloriousi sp.n., P. greensladeae sp.n., P. howei sp.n., P. minantennus sp.n., P. platetus sp.n., P. postlei sp.n., P. tritus sp.n., P. trivius sp.n., P. verus sp.n. and P. wellsae sp.n.
References
Dang, L.H., Mound, L.A. & Qiao, G.X. (2014) Conspectus of the Phlaeothripinae genera from China and Southeast Asia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae). Zootaxa, 3807 (1), 1–82.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3807.1.1
Eow, L.X., Mound, L.A., Tree, D.J. & Cameron, S.L. (2014) Australian species of spore-feeding Thysanoptera in the genera Carientothrips and Nesothrips (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Zootaxa, 3821 (2), 193–221.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3821.2.2
Mound, L.A. (1970) Thysanoptera from the Solomon Islands. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology, 24, 83–126.
https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.1519
Mound, L.A. (1972) Species complexes and the generic classification of leaf-litter thrips of the Tribe Urothripini (Phlaeothripidae). Australian Journal of Zoology, 20, 83–103.
https://doi.org/10.1071/zo9720083
Mound, L.A. (1974) Spore-feeding Thrips (Phlaeothripidae) from Leaf Litter and Dead Wood in Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplement, 27, 1–106.
https://doi.org/10.1071/AJZS027
Mound, L.A. (2002) Zemiathrips; a new genus of fungus-feeding phlaeothripine Thysanoptera in Australian leaf-litter. Australian Journal of Entomology, 41, 209–215.
https://doi.org/10.1071/ajzs027
Mound, L.A., Dang, L.H. & Tree, D.J. (2013) Genera of fungivorous Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera) from dead branches and leaf-litter in Australia. Zootaxa, 3681 (3), 201–224.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3681.3.1
Mound, L.A. & Marullo, R. (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International, 6, 1–488.
Mound, L.A. & Walker, A.K. (1986) Tubulifera (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna of New Zealand, 10,1–140. Available from: https://www.biotaxa.org/fnz/article/download/1750/2885 (Accessed 11 Oct. 2019)
Okajima, S. (1983) Studies on some Psalidothrips species with key to the world species (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). Journal of Natural History, 17, 1–13.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938300770011
Okajima, S. (2006) The Insects of Japan. Vol. 2. The suborder Tubulifera (Thysanoptera). ToukaShoboCo. Ltd., Fukuoka, 720 pp.
Priesner, H. (1932) Indomalayische Thysanopteren IV [Teil 1]. Konowia, 16, 49–64.
ThripsWiki (2019) ThripsWiki – providing information on the World’s thrips. Available from: http://thrips.info/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 29 June 2019)
Tree, D.J. & Walter, G.H. (2012) Diversity and abundance of fungivorous thrips (Thysanoptera) associated with leaf-litter and bark across forest types and two tree genera in subtropical Australia. Journal of Natural History, 46, 2897–2918.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2012.737037
Wang, J., Tong, X.L. & Zhang, W.Q. (2007) The genus Psalidothrips Priesner in China (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) with three new species. Zootaxa, 1642 (1), 23–31.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1642.1.3
Zhao, C., Zhang, H.R. & Tong, X.L. (2018) Species of the fungivorous genus Psalidothrips Priesner from China, with five new species (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae). ZooKeys, 746, 25–50.