Hoplothrips lowdeni, 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 : 308-309

Hoplothrips lowdeni sp. n.

( Figs 10, 11 , 26 , 35 )

Female aptera. Body light brown with pronotum darkest, but head, abdominal segments VIII, IX and basal half of tube yellow; mid and hind femora light brown, tibiae yellow and light brown, tarsi yellow; antennal segments I –II brownish yellow, III yellow on basal half, IV–VIII brown ( Fig. 35 ). Head with weak transverse polygonal sculpture posterolaterally but ocellar region without sculpture; genae sub-parallel, setae weak; ocelli absent, compound eyes with about 14 facets; postocular setae capitate, shorter than half the distance between their bases; maxillary stylets long, retracted to postocular setae and close together medially ( Fig. 11 ). Antennal segments III and IV each with 2 sense cones, III–VIII each with distinct pedicel ( Fig. 35 ). Pronotum without sculpture; with 4 pairs of capitate major setae, am varying from small and pointed to capitate. Mesonotum transverse, with sculpture lines, lateral setae small but capitate; metanotum smooth, median setae acute. Prosternal basantra absent or faintly indicated, ferna transverse and meeting medially; mesopresternum absent, mesoeusternal anterior margin eroded. Fore tarsal tooth small, curved, at inner apex of tarsus. Pelta transverse, with weak polygonal sculpture anteriorly; tergites II–VII each with one pair of minute straight wing-retaining setae; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 pointed, shorter than tube; longest anal setae longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1580. Head, length 175; width 160; postocular setae 38, the distance of their base 135, postocellar setae 5, the distance of their base 45. Pronotum, length 153; median width 247; major setae am 8, aa 25, ml 20, epim 28, pa 23. Mesonotum bilateral setae 10; Metanotum median setae 20. Tergite IV median marginal setae 40; tergite VIII median setae 37, tergite IX setae S1 56, S2 78. Tube length 83. Anal setae 100. Antennal segments III–VIII length (width) 47 (29), 43 (29), 42 (28), 38 (22), 40 (20), 40 (13).

Male aptera. Similar to female but slightly smaller and varying in size; basantra well developed, major male with ferna large and median margins closely parallel ( Fig. 26 ); fore femora swollen, fore tibiae inner margin with distinct tubercle in largest male, fore tarsal tooth longer than tarsal width; tergite IX setae S2 shorter; sternite VIII pore plate absent.

Measurements (of large male, in microns). Body length 1340. Head, length 148; width 158; postocular setae 58, postocellar setae 5. Pronotum, length 235; median width 267; major setae am 5, aa 33, ml 31, epim 28, pa 37. Tergite VIII median setae 47, Tergite IX setae S1 68, S2 32. Tube length 88; anal setae 105. Antennal segments III–VIII length 50, 40, 47, 40, 40, 41.

Specimens studied. Holotype female aptera. New South Wales, Lowden F.P., from dead Eucalyptus , 9.ii.2013 ( LAM 5735 ) in ANIC.

Paratypes: 7 males, same data as holotype; same locality , 1 male from Eucalyptus dead branches, 27.ii.2011 ( LAM 5431 ). Queensland, Indooroopilly , 1 female from dead leaves and grasses, 7.iii.2006. Victoria, Mallacoota , 1 female from dead Eucalyptus , 1.iv.2011.

Comments. This species is generally similar to H. fungosus , but has the ocelli region without sculpture, the compound eyes with more facets, the prosternal ferna of major males greatly enlarged, the prosternal basantra absent in females, and the fore tarsus of females with a small tooth.

Figures

FIGURES 10–20. Hoplothrips species—head and pronotum. (10) lowdeni male; (11) lowdeni female; (12) nelsoni male; (13) nelsoni female; (14) oakeyi female; (15) oakeyi male; (16) reedi male; (17) reedi pronotum; (18) melanurus pronotum; (19) tarsus; (20) semicaecus female macroptera.

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.