Dunatothrips aneurae

Dunatothrips aneurae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Thysanoptera
Family:	Phlaeothripidae
Genus:	Dunatothrips
Species:	D. aneurae
Binomial name
Dunatothrips aneurae Mound, 1969

Dunatothrips aneurae is a tiny haplodiploid eusocial insect less than 3 millimetres (0.12 in) in length.[1]

Habitat

Dunatothrips aneurae lives on Acacia trees in the Australian Outback.[1] They preferred east-facing, thin terminal phyllodes on the Acacia trees.[2]

Nests

For a nest to form, it requires a lone female to have male presence to initiate a domicile. They then construct them without male help before losing their wings on nesting by abscission.[2]

The nests are made from a silk-like glue which the extract from their bottoms[3] and some mature nests contain middens.[2] If the nest is broken, usually only one or two individuals step up to repair it, and the rest of the individuals get to enjoy the benefits of a repaired nest.[1]

Mating

Male Dunatothrips aneurae engaged in short, truncated matings with their sisters before dispersing and mating with females in nearby nests.[2]

References

1. "Down Under, University of Hull". 6 November 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
2. James D. J. Gilbert; Stephen J. Simpson (12 July 2013). "Natural history and behaviour of Dunatothrips aneurae Mound". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 109 (4): 802–816. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
3. "Are these tiny insects the world's most bone-idle bugs?". 9 November 2024.