Gall‐induction by an Australian insect of the family Thripidae (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia)

Abstract

Leaf‐fold galls induced by Cyrilthrips cecidis gen. nov. et sp. nov. on Austrosteenisia blackii (Fabaceae) in eastern Queensland, Australia, involve either single or double folds. Single‐fold galls are subject to invasion by two species of kleptoparasitic Phlaeothripidae, to which double‐fold galls are largely immune. This thripid is a member of a southeast Asian lineage of Thripinae in which gall‐induction is possibly recurrent. This lineage includes the genus Chaetanaphothrips in which some species are crop pests but not gall‐inducing. Females of Cyrilthrips have a unique curved spur on the hind coxae, and the ocellar chaetotaxy is also unique among Thripidae.

Keywords:

• gall‐induction
• kleptoparasites
• Terebrantia
• Thripidae
• Cyrilthrips cecidis

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Masami Masumoto of the Yokohama Plant Protection Station, Narita Airport, Japan, and Tadaaki Tsutsumi of Fukushima University, Japan, for their advice and information. Also thanks are due to Megan Thomas and Laurie Jessup of the Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane who kindly identified plant samples.