This is the largest species of Thrip in Australia, and is normally found on dead Eucalyptus leaves which are still on the tree (Mound, 1974 page 60). It belongs to a subfamily all the members of which are believed to feed on fungal spores. There are likely to be many other species of Thrip in the park. Some Thrip are as small as 0.5mm long and many species live in leaf litter.
Classification
from Australian Faunal Directory
Order Thysanoptera - Thrip, 994 named species in Australia
Family Phlaeothripidae - 654 species in Australia
Subfamily Idolothripinae - 102 species in Australia
Genus Idolothrips
Species Idolothrips spectrum
References
- Mound LA. 1974. Spore-feeding thrips (Phlaeothripidae) from leaf litter and dead wood in Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 27:1-106.