Hoplothrips woodsi, Mound & Wang & Tree, 2020

Mound, Laurence A., Wang, Jun & Tree, Desley J., 2020, The genus Hoplothrips in Australia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), with eleven new species, Zootaxa 4718 (3), pp. 301-323 : 320

Hoplothrips woodsi sp. n.

( Figs 30 , 45 , 54, 64 )

Female aptera. Body light brown, abdominal segment IX and tube apex paler; femora light brown, tarsi and at least distal half of tibiae yellow; antennal segments VI–VIII paler than I–V. Head with weak transverse sculpture lines posterolaterally; genae sub-parallel with one or more pairs of small setae; ocelli absent, compound eyes with 3 large and 2 small facets; postocular setae blunt, longer than half the distance between their bases; maxillary stylets long, retracted to eyes, close together medially. Antennal segment III with 2 sense cones and a prominent ring-like ridge near base, IV with 2 sense cones ( Fig. 45 ); III–VII each with pedicel; VIII slender, narrowed to base. Pronotum without sculpture; 4 pairs of major setae long and blunt, am setae no longer than discal setae. Mesonotum transverse, with weak sculpture, lateral setae minute; metanotum with weak sculpture anteriorly, median setae finely pointed ( Fig. 54 ). Prosternal basantra present but weak, ferna transverse, mesopresternum apparently absent, mesoeusternal anterior margin eroded ( Fig. 30 ). Fore tarsal tooth length scarcely half of tarsal width. Pelta transverse, slender, with polygonal sculpture anteriorly; tergites II–VII each with one pair of minute straight wing-retaining setae ( Fig. 54 ); VII–VIII with median setae long, IX with setae S1 bluntly pointed and slightly shorter than tube; anal setae shorter than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 2370. Head, length 203; width 205; postocular setae 90, distance between their bases 138; postocellar setae 13, distance between their bases 63. Pronotum, length 187; median width 325; major setae am 15, aa 68, ml 88, epim 95, pa 87. Mesonotum lateral setae 12; metanotum median setae 53. Tergite IV median marginal setae 120; tergite VIII median setae 93, tergite IX setae S1 145, S2 133. Tube length 173. Anal setae 153. Antennal segments III–VIII length (width) 68 (38), 58 (35), 62 (35), 51 (28), 45 (23), 43 (17).

Female macroptera. Similar to female aptera in colour and chaetotaxy; compound eyes multifaceted, ocelli present; fore wing without duplicated cilia.

Measurements (in microns). Body length 2260. Head, length 212; width 215; postocular setae 97. Fore wing length 107, sub-basal setae S1 65, S2 80.

Male aptera. Similar to apterous female but smaller, fore leg and tarsal tooth larger; prosternal basantra more robustly sclerotized; tergite IX setae S2 shorter and stout; sternite VIII pore plate transverse, slender and reaching lateral margins of sternite ( Fig. 64 ).

Measurements (in microns). Body length 1960. Head, length 193; width 160; postocular setae 77, postocellar setae 9. Pronotum, length 202; median width 278; major setae am 8, aa 20, ml 82, epim 81, pa 82. Tergite VIII median setae 80, Tergite IX setae S1 123, S2 65. Tube length 147, anal setae 147. Antennal segments III–VIII length 61, 53, 55, 48, 38, 38.

Specimens studied. Holotype female aptera. Australian Capital Territory, Black Mountain , from leaf litter, 29.xi.1967 (C.G. Brooks) in ANIC.

Paratypes: ACT, Mt. Ainslie , 1 female from leaf litter, 9.i.1968 ; ACT, Woods Reserve , 1 female, 3 males from Eucalyptus litter, 20-21.iv.2016 . Tasmania, Lake Pedder , 1 female macroptera, ii-iii.2014 . South Australia, Monarto Sth, Mallee Site , 1 female, 13.vi.1969 ; 90 mile Desert , 1 female, 5.x.1977 ; Tailembend , 1 female, 3.iv.1969 .

Non-paratypes: South Australia, Koonamore, 1 female from Mallee litter, 18.ii.1974. Queensland, Cooloola, 1 female, 23.vi.1977. [All apterae except where indicated].

Comments. The two non-paratype females lack antennae and have the pelta strongly eroded and tergites II–VI with well-developed median setae. The one from South Australia has the pronotal am setae well developed. The one from Queensland has mesonotal lateral setae long, and the prosternal basantra not developed. It seems that H. woodsi is widespread but not common in leaf-litter in southeastern Australia.

Figures

FIGURES 21–30. Hoplothrips species. Head 21–22 (21) wrightae female; (22) wrightae male. Prosternum 23–30 (23) bellingeni; (24) fungosus; (25) lihongae; (26) lowdeni male; (27) tarsus; (28) wrightae; (29) reedi; (30) woodsi (B–basantra; F–ferna; M–mesoeusternum anterior margin).

FIGURES 31–45. Hoplothrips species antennae. (31) bellingeni; (32) corticis (III–V); (33) giganteus; (34) lihongae; (35) lowdeni; (36) nelsoni; (37) oakeyi; (38) wrightae; (39) orientalis (III–V); (40) poultoni; (41) reedi; (42) semicaecus female macroptera; (43) semicaecus female microptera; (44) semicaecus male microptera; (45) woodsi.

FIGURES 53–66. Hoplothrips species. Metanotum & pelta 53–54 (53) oudeus; (54) woodsi. (55) tarsus pelta. (56) lamingtoni tergite II. Male sternite VIII pore plate 57–64 (57) corticis; (58) lihongae; (59) wrightae; (60) oakeyi; (61) reedi; (62) melanurus (VII–VIII); (63) poultoni; (64) woodsi. Male sternites 65–66 (65) giganteus (VII); (66) melanurus (V–VI).