Type species: Oligaethus rostratus Jacobi 1928: 24, by original designation

Known species: Only the type species is included in this genus. O. rostratus was originally described from Broome, Derby and the Kimberley district of WA although a number of specimens are known from NT.

Comments: The presence of a large number of strong crossveins, which are as prominent as the longitudinal veins, distinguishes species in this genus. In most Tropiduchini and Tambiniini, the crossveins are lined up to form one, or usually two, preapical transverse lines with the remainder of the tegmen almost bare of crossveins. However, in Oligaethus, the crossveins are scattered throughout the tegmen ("unregelmässig netzadrig", Jacobi 1928) as well as in a preapical line. This species keys to the genus Montrouzierana Signoret (1861) in Fennah (1956) and it is possible that Oligaethus is a synonym of that genus. Montrouzierana is represented by a single species described from New Caledonia and Lifu Island. 

Document 558, submitted 24 August 2001
This document is made available subject to the conditions
outlined in the disclaimer and copyright statement.

© NSW Agriculture, 2001