54 



STUDIES ON AUSTRALIAN THYSANOPTERA : THE 

 GENUS IDOLOTHRIPS, Haliday. 



By Walter W. Froggatt, F.L.S., Government Entomologist. 



(Plate iii.) 



When Darwin visited Australia in 1836 on the memorable 

 voyage of the " Beagle," among many other interesting specimens, 

 he collected some Thrips remarkable for their great size, in com- 

 parison with other known species. 



When the collections were distributed, these specimens were 

 handed over to Mr. A. H. Haliday, w^ho had recentl}^ published 

 his classification of the British species of Thysanoptera. It was 

 not, however, until sixteen years later that the descriptions 

 were given to the world, in Walker's "List of Specimens of 

 Homoptera in the Collection of the British Museum." Pt. iv. 

 •(p. 1096) Physapoda. In this Catalogue, Haliday's definition of 

 the genus was given and three species described. But from a 

 study of a large quantity of material it is evident to me that 

 Haliday described the two sexes as distinct species, and a smaller 

 and more variable form of the male as a third. 



These interesting little creatures, though very plentiful and 

 widely distributed in Tasmania and the eastern portion of Aus- 

 tralia, seem to have escaped the notice of most collectors. 

 From the study of an unlimited suppl}^ of living specimens in 

 all stages of development, I am able to give the following account 

 of their habits and life-history : — 



Idolothrips spectrum, Haliday {$). 

 I. maryitiata, Haliday (^), and /. lacertina, Haliday {^). 



Eggs white, elongate and attached at the base to the surface of 

 the dead leaves of Eucalypts in irregular rows, forming clusters 

 of from 50 to 250 in number, touching each other so that they 

 can be detached in an unbroken mass. Apex of egg rounded, 



