Hoplandrothrips xanthocnemis (Karny)

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2013, Fungus-feeding thrips from Australia in the worldwide genus Hoplandrothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 3700 (3), pp. 476-494 : 493

Hoplandrothrips xanthocnemis (Karny)

( Figs 27, 28 , 31–33 )

Horistothrips xanthocnemis Karny, 1920: 39

The original description of this species consisted of 2.5 lines in a key. It shares many character states with several of the Hoplandrothrips species from Australia, including the presence of metanotal discal setae and the presence in large males of elongate pronotal anteroangular setae, but the metanotal median setae have expanded apices. It is a distinctive species with an elongate pelta, and sharply yellow hind tibiae. In comparison to hylaius and coorongi the head has straighter cheeks and the mouth cone is longer. In females, the apices of tergal setae S1 are greatly asymmetric and fringed, but not in males. This rainforest species has been taken from dead branches of various tree species at sites in eastern Australia, sometimes in association with H. hylaius described above. Localities from which specimens have been studied include, in New South Wales: Mt Dromedary in the south, also Gosford, Chichester Forest near Barrington Tops, and Warrumbungle National Park; in Queensland: near Brisbane at Mt Glorious and at Lamington, as well as further north at Tulley, Atherton and Cairns.

Diagnosis. Both sexes macropterous; body and femora brown with red internal pigment, tibiae and tarsi yellow; antennal segment III largely yellow, IV–V yellow at base; major setae pale, except stout setae on fore coxae; fore wing very faintly shaded medially. Head longer than wide ( Fig. 31 ), slightly wider behind large eyes then narrowing to base and sharply constricted in largest male; dorsal surface reticulate; cheeks with one or more pairs of small setae, large male with one pair stout in basal third; postocular setae almost posterior to inner margins of eyes, about as long as eye width in both sexes; maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, close together medially; mouth cone pointed, extending across prosternum. Antennal segment III with 3 sensoria, IV with 4 sensoria; VII clearly pedicellate, VIII slightly narrowed to base. Pronotum sculptured near posterior margin, male with median longitudinal apodeme; all 5 pairs of major setae long and capitate, aa long in males, largest male with aa setae almost as long as basal width of head. Fore femora stout, without tubercles, fore tarsus with prominent tooth in both sexes. Basantra absent, chitinous islets not large; mesopresternum sexually dimorphic ( Figs 27, 28 ). Mesonotal lateral, and metanotal median setae short and capitate. Metanotum weakly reticulate at anterior with 2 or more pairs of small discal setae ( Fig. 32 ). Fore wing very weakly constricted medially; sub-basal setae all capitate, S3 elongate. Pelta elongate bell-shaped, broadly flared at base; tergites II–VII with anterior wing retaining setae weaker than posterior pair; one pair of small setae near campaniform sensilla medially; lateral setae S1 on II–VI elongate with apex strongly asymmetric and fringed in female ( Fig. 33 ) but smoothly spoon-shaped in male, S2 capitate; tergite IX S 2 in male pointed; male sternite VIII with broad transverse pore plate, sternites II–VII of large males with paired reticulate areas anterolateral to discal setae.

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 28. Hoplandrothrips from Australia. Head & pronotum 22 – 24: (22) ibisci sp. n.; (23) oreillyi sp. n.; (24) quadriconus. Meso & metanotum, pelta & tergite II, 25 – 26: (25) ibisci sp. n.; (26) quadriconus. Mesopresternum of xanthocnemis, 27 – 28: (27) female; (28) male.

FIGURES 29 – 33. Hoplandrothrips from Australia. tareei sp. n. 29 – 30: (29) head & pronotum; (30) Meso & metanotum, pelta & tergite II. xanthocnemis 31 – 33: (31) male head & pronotum; (32) male meso & metanotum, pelta & tergite II; (33) female tergite IV.