Ecacleistothrips, Mound, Laurence A., 2007

Mound, Laurence A., 2007, New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 1604, pp. 53-68 : 54-55

Ecacleistothrips gen.n.

Large bodied polymorphic Idolothripinae , Pygothripini. Antennae 8-segmented, segments III and IV each with 2 sensoria that are scarcely 0.5 as long as maximum width of segment ( Fig. 5 ). Head projecting weakly in front of eyes, with one pair of long preocellar setae ( Fig. 2 ); eyes smaller ventrally than dorsally; vertex with one pair of very long postocular setae between which arises one pair of shorter setae, also one pair of lateral postocular setae almost on cheeks; maxillary stylets broad, retracted to eyes and close together medially; male with stout horn anteroventrally. Pronotum transverse, epimeral sutures complete, ml, epim and pa setae about as long as median length of pronotum. Prosternal basantra anterolateral in position, small, quadrate, bearing one or two setae; ferna large (massive in male), median borders parallel; mesopraesternum complete; metathoracic sternopleural sutures recurved ( Fig. 3 ); anapleural sutures complete. Metanotum reticulate, median setae very long. Fore femora and fore tarsal tooth stout, particularly in male ( Fig. 4 ). Forewing very broad distally, with more than 50 duplicated cilia; cilia around wing apex very short and coarsely rugose. Pelta in female D-shaped with very short lateral wings ( Fig. 6 ), in male transverse and continuous between the lateral spiracles ( Fig. 7 ); tergites II–VI of macropterae each with one pair of weakly sigmoid wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae more than 50% as long as tube; tube much longer than head with numerous short setae laterally, constricted at apex; anal setae short.

Type-species: Ecacleistothrips glorious sp.n.

Relationships. Among the Idolothripinae , Ecacleistothrips shares with only Cleistothrips Bagnall the combination of characters: tube with prominent lateral setae, metathoracic sternopleural sutures well-developed, anapleural sutures complete. Cleistothrips comprises a single species, C. idolothripoides Bagnall , known only from New Zealand ( Mound & Walker, 1986). Nothing is known of its biology, but it has been taken at several sites across North Island, New Zealand, and also in the north west of South Island. The long and very broad maxillary stylets indicate that it feeds by ingesting fungal spores, and collection records suggest that it lives in dead hollow twigs. Cleistothrips is considered to be closely related to Heptathrips Moulton , another genus from New Zealand that is discussed further below.

Ecacleistothrips and Cleistothrips share the following character states:

1. Tube long, constricted distally, with prominent lateral setae; 2. Head long, with 2 pairs of postocular setae; 3. Head with one pair of well-developed preocellar setae; 4. Maxillary stylets long, retracted to level of eyes; 5. Metathoracic sternopleural sutures present; 6. Anapleural sutures complete;

7. Tergites each with only one pair of wing-retaining setae; 8. Antennal segments III and IV each with 2 sensoria; 9. Pronotal anteromarginal setae small;

10. Prosternal ferna large;

11. Mesopraesternum complete;

12. Fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes.

Ecacleistothrips and Cleistothrips differ in the following character states:

1. Postocular pairs of setae side-by-side ( Cleistothrips : one in front of the other);

2. Antennal segment VIII constricted at base ( Cleistothrips : no suture between VII & VIII);

3. Pronotum with 4 pairs of long setae ( Cleistothrips : one pair, plus 2 pairs moderately long);

4. Prosternal basantra represented by pair of lateral sclerites ( Cleistothrips : absent);

5. Metanotum reticulate medially, median setae long ( Cleistothrips : no sculpture medially, setae small);

6. Forewing broader distally than medially, terminal cilia short ( Cleistothrips : forewing parallel sided, cilia normal);

7. Wing polymorphic ( Cleistothrips : both sexes macropterous)

8. Pelta fully transverse in males, D-shaped in female apterae, D-shaped with small lateral wings in macropterae ( Cleistothrips : pelta with long slender lateral wings);

9. Male with enlarged fore legs, head with tubercle anteroventrally, pronotum massive ( Cleistothrips : male similar to female except fore tarsal tooth larger).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Ecacleistothrips glorious. 1 & 2, Female holotype; 3, Female prosternites; 4, Male; 5, Holotype antenna;