Panchaetothrips timonii sp. n. (Thysanoptera, Thripidae); first Australian record of this Old World tropical genus

Abstract

Abstract The Old World genus Panchaetothrips Bagnall has included five species, of which one is a pest of coffee in eastern Africa, and another attacks arrowroot, bananas and turmeric in India. The genus is here newly recorded from Australia, with P. timonii sp. n. found breeding on the leaves of Timonius timon (Rubiaceae) at Broome on the north‐western coast. Immature stages fed on younger leaves, and, when disturbed, older larvae exuded an anal droplet. Adults were found mainly on mature leaves, where they exhibited the typically defensive behaviour of raising their heavily spined abdominal apex over the head. The new species is described and a key provided to the six known species of Panchaetothrips, although the identity of two South‐east Asian species remains in doubt.