Williamsiella insperata, Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2015

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2015, Species of Lissothrips and Williamsiella from mosses and lichens in Australia and New Zealand (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 3946 (3), pp. 361-373 : 371-372

Williamsiella insperata sp.n.

( Figs 29–32 )

Female aptera: Body, all femora and antennal segments IV–VIII brown; tibiae yellowish brown, tarsi and antennal segment III yellow, tube dark brown, major setae weakly shaded. Head wider than long ( Fig. 29 ), weakly reticulate on posterior third; compound eyes with about 12 facets dorsally, ventrally with about 10 facets; po setae long and capitate; maxillary stylets wide apart, restricted to large mouth cone. Antennae 8-segmented ( Fig. 30 ), III smaller than IV, with one small sense cone on inner margin (sometimes absent?), IV with 2 large sense cones, VIII slender and narrowed to small basal pedicel. Pronotum transverse, without sculpture, notopleural sutures long but incomplete; all five major setae long and capitate ( Fig. 29 ). Fore tarsal inner apical margin with small tooth. Mesonotum almost without sculpture, paired lateral setae long, no fore wing lobe; metanotum without sculpture, median setae small and fine ( Fig 31 ). Prosternal ferna weakly indicated, basantra pointed medially, mesopresternum transverse but narrow medially, anterior margin of mesoeusternum transverse ( Fig 32 ); metathoracic sternopleural sutures not developed. Abdomen with pelta small, irregular D-shape, campaniform sensilla present; tergites with median setae minute, III–VI each with 2 pairs of long capitate setae laterally, external pair on VII pointed; tergite IX setae finely pointed, longer than tube; anal setae shorter than tube. Sternites with 4 to 6 minute discal setae, median marginal setae longer than lateral pair.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1150. Head, length 75; width 115; po setae 50. Pronotum, length 100; width 175; setae—am 38, aa 38, ml 40, epim 45, pa 40. Mesonotum lateral setae length 38. Tergite IX setae S1 90. Tube length 75. Antennal segments III–VIII length, 22, 28, 33, 40, 38, 23.

Male aptera. Smaller than female but very similar in structure; tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternites with only 2 discal setae, VIII with no pore plate.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 950. Pronotum, length 85; width 165; setae—am 25, aa 25, ml 35, epim 38, pa 38. Tergite IX setae S1 75; S2 25. Tube length 70.

Material studied. Holotype female aptera, Australia, Northern Territory, Litchfield National Park, Tabletop Swamp, barkspray of Eucalyptus trunk, 3.v.2014 (DJT 1804).

Paratypes: 2 females, 3 males taken with holotype. Queensland, Cape Tribulation, Carbeen Road, 1 female from barkspray of buttress roots, 7.x.2012.

Comments. According to Table I in Mound (1989), only five species of Williamsiella have the antennae 8- segmented with segment eight narrowed to the base, and the third segment with one sense cone. From those five species, as from most other members of this genus, the new species differs in having all five pairs of pronotal major setae long and capitate. However, the head shape is similar to that of bicoloripes , the type species that is widespread between Texas and Brazil, as well as to some other species including jacoti from Angola.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 32. Williamsiella insperata. (29) Head & pronotum; (30) Antenna; (31) Meso & metanota and pelta; (32) Thoracic sternites.