Paracholeothrips clavisetae (Girault)

Paracholeothrips clavisetae (Girault) View in CoL

( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7–12 )

Adiaphorothrips clavisetae Girault, 1926: 1 View in CoL

Girault described the species based on five syntypes taken at Dalby in southern Queensland, but only one of these specimens is now identified as clavisetae ( Crespi et al. 2004) View in CoL . The species is interpreted as being widespread and common across the Australian mainland and specimens have been studied from at least 12 species of Acacia View in CoL . Individuals vary greatly in size and structure, particularly the length of the head. Larger individuals have the prosternal ferna elongate with the median margins approaching each other, whereas smaller individuals have the fernal plates more nearly transverse and well separated ( Fig. 7 View FIGURES 7–12 ). Most specimens identified as clavisetae View in CoL have been collected in Queensland, but many have come from semi-arid areas of South Australia and New South Wales, including one female from Acacia melvillei View in CoL at Euston on the border with Victoria, and a few of both sexes from Acacia sibilans View in CoL at Cue in Western Australia. However, no specimens have been seen from Victoria or from Northern Territory. It shares with P. validus View in CoL and P. calcicolae View in CoL the character state of long postocular setae, whereas this pair of setae is short in the other members of the genus.