Zemiathrips: a new genus of fungus‐feeding phlaeothripine Thysanoptera in Australian leaf‐litter

A new genus of Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae, Zemiathrips , is described for five new species. These thrips are locally abundant in leaf‐litter in Australia, particularly in Eucalyptus litter, and each is presumed to feed on fungal hyphae. Almost all individuals are wingless but, in contrast to many fungus‐feeding Phlaeothripidae, none of the species show any within‐sex polymorphism. Representatives of the genus have been found in all Australian states and territories except the Northern Territory and, despite winged individuals being rare, several of the species are widespread.