Malesiathrips australis

Mound, Laurence A., 2007, New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 1604, pp. 53-68 : 66-67

Malesiathrips australis sp n.

( Figs 24–27 )

Apterous female. Brown to dark brown; head paler between eyes and with pair of submedian longitudinal paler areas; pterothorax and abdominal segment IX sometimes paler than blackish brown abdomen; tube yellowish red brown; legs and antennae dark brown, tarsi and basal pedicel of segment III yellow. Head projecting in front of rounded eyes ( Fig. 24 ); cheeks convex, constricted behind eyes; interocular area reticulate, also a longitudinal row of reticulation posteromedially; ocelli small, postocellar and major postocular setae capitate. Antennae 8-segmented ( Fig. 27 ), segment I with two large setae of which the outer is longer than the inner; III with two sensoria, IV with four sensoria, these sensoria on neither segment extending beyond midpoint of succeeding segment. Pronotal epimeral setae arise on prominent tubercles. Prosternal basantra transverse ( Fig. 25 ), mesopraesternum entire. Mesonotum transverse, with no wing remnant ( Fig. 26 ); metanotum reticulate, median setae small. Pelta transverse; tergal chaetotaxy and tube as in M. malayensis ; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 broadly blunt, S3 finely acute.

Measurements of holotype female in microns. Body length 2550. Head, length 380; width 200; postocellar setae 50; postocular setae - inner 20, outer 55. Pronotum, length 155; width 280; major setae am 15, aa 55, ml 30, epim 80, pa 20. metanotal median setae 20. Tergite IX setae S1 90, S2 95, S3 90. Tube, length 320; anal setae 100. Antennal segments III–VIII length, 85, 70, 65, 50, 40, 30.

Apterous male. Similar to female but tube as dark as abdomen; with minute fore tarsal tooth.

Material studied. Holotype female, Queensland; Babinda, from Calamus dead frond, 11.viii.2004 (LAM 4474).

Paratypes: 6 females taken with holotype; Cape Tribulation, 1 female from Calamus dead frond, 9.vii.1995; Mt Spurgeon, 2 females 1 male by pyrethrum fogging, 17.x.1991; Daintree Ferry, 4 females, 4 males from Calamus dead fronds, 4.viii.2004.

Comments. This new species may eventually be demonstrated to be no more than the southern form of M. malayensis , should that species be shown to be more widely distributed on dead palm fronds across southern Indonesia.

Figures

FIGURES 24 – 27. Malesiathrips australis. 24, Head and pronotum; 25, Thoracic sternites; 26, Meso and metanota and pelta; 27, Antenna.