Lefroyothrips tribulationi, Mound & Ng, 2021

Mound, L. A. & Ng, Y. F., 2021, Studies on the genus Lefroyothrips, with new records from Malaysia, New Caledonia and a new species from Australia (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 4927 (4), pp. 567-575 : 571-572

Lefroyothrips tribulationi sp.n.

( Figs 5, 9–10 , 15 , 19 )

Female macroptera. Colour mainly yellow with light brown areas as follows: behind each compound eye, on pronotum longitudinally and sublaterally, on metascutum laterally, on tergites III–VII medially and with paired lateral areas; major setae dark brown; legs yellow; fore wings very weakly shaded, with slightly darker area at veinal fork; antennal segments brown to dark brown, III with constricted apex sharply paler and base also paler ( Fig. 5 ). With the character states of the generic diagnosis. Head without sculpture in ocellar region, transversely irregularly striate on posterior area, postocular ridge weakly developed ( Fig. 9 ); ocellar setae III arise within ocellar triangle, length about equal to distance between posterior ocelli, ocellar setae pair I irregularly placed. Antennal segments III and IV with constricted elongate apex. Pronotum with weak irregular transverse striae, inner pair of posteroangular setae slightly shorter than outer pair ( Fig. 10 ). Metanotum weakly reticulate, median major setae arise well behind anterior margin, medially with 1 or 2 extra setae ( Fig. 15 ); CPS near posterior of sclerite. Fore wing first vein with 2 setae distally. Tergites without sculpture lines medially. Sternite VII setal pair S2 arise well in front of margin.

Measurements (holotype in microns). Body length 1750. Head, length 110; width 169; ocellar setae III 25. Pronotum, length 140; width 210; posteroangular setae—inner 45, outer 50. Metascutum major setae 40. Fore wing length 850. Antennal segments III–VIII length 75, 75, 50, 60, 12, 15.

Specimens studied. Holotype female, Australia, Queensland, Cape Tribulation , from Syzygium fls, ix.2001 (S. Boulter) (in ANIC).

Paratypes: Queensland, Redlynch, Stoney Creek , 6.xi.2008 ( LAM)— 1 female from Syzygium tierneyanum , 1 female from Myristica insipida (LAM) (in ANIC) .

Comments. The antennae of this species are unusual among species of this genus, both for their dark colour and for the constricted elongate apex to segments III and IV. The distribution of the dark areas on the yellow body is probably distinctive, as are the almost uniformly coloured fore wings. The metascutum of the holotype has two extra setae medially, whereas both paratypes have only one such median seta .

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Lefroyothrips species. Antennal segments, 1–6: (1) fasciatus holotype; (2) fasciatus male; (3) lefroyi; (4) pictus paratype; (5) tribulationi; (6) varatharajani. 7–8 lefroyi: (7) female; (8) head & pronotum. L. tribulationi, 9–10: (9) head; (10) pronotum.

FIGURES 11–16. Lefroyothrips species—metascutum. (11) fasciatus holotype; (12) fasciatus paratype male; (13) fasciatus male; (14) lefroyi; (15) tribulationi; (16) varatharajani.

FIGURES 17–23. Lefroyothrips species. Female tergites VII–X, 17–19: (17) lefroyi; (18) pictus; (19) tribulationi. male tergite IX, 20–21: (20) pictus; (21) fasciatus. (22) lefroyi female sternites VI–VII. (23) fasciatus fore wing.