Anaphothrips aptilotus, Mound & Masumoto, 2009

Mound, Laurence A. & Masumoto, Masami, 2009, Australian Thripinae of the Anaphothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera), with three new genera and thirty-three new species, Zootaxa 2042 (1), pp. 1-76 : 15-18

Anaphothrips aptilotus sp. n.

( Figs 13–16 )

Female microptera. Body and legs yellow, prominent setae shaded; antennal segment I yellow, II–V yellow with distal half pale brown, VI–VIII brown. Head as long as wide, slightly overhanging antennal segment I; basal third with strong transverse reticulations; eyes with 6 pigmented facets; ocelli present or absent, ocellar setae III on anterior margins of triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III with sensorium simple, IV with sensorium forked; I without microtrichia; VI without pedicel ( Fig. 16 ). Pronotum with widely spaced anastomosing striae, irregular at middle. Mesonotum transverse, campaniform sensilla present. Metascutum with median setae posteromedially, MCS absent. Fore wing lobe about as long as metascutum ( Fig. 13 ). Abdominal tergites with strong transverse reticulation ( Fig. 14 ), VI–VIII median paired setae stout, extending to tergal posterior margin; VI–VII setae S3 as large as S4; VIII with no comb on posterior margin, spiracular area large but not occupying half of tergite lateral margin.

Measurements (holotype, in microns). Body length 920. Head, length 75; width across eyes 115. Pronotum, length 105; maximum width 135. Tergite IV S1 setae 12. Tergite IX, MD setae 12; PM S1 setae 40. Tergite X PM S1 setae 35. Antennal segments III–VIII, 32, 30, 30, 35, 5, 10.

Male microptera. Similar to female; sternites without pore plates; tergite IX median setae slightly stout ( Fig. 15 ).

Specimens examined. Holotype female microptera, Lord Howe Island, Intermediate Hill, from Cassinia tenuifolia leaves ( Asteraceae ), 22.xii.2001 (LAM 4072).

Paratypes: 9 females 1 male taken with holotype; Lord Howe Island, Blinkey’s Beach , 2 females from Cassinia , 28.xii.2001; Clear Space, 4 females 1 male from Cassinia , 21.xii.2007. Australian Capital Territory, Tidbinbilla : 11 females from Cassinia arcuata , 14.ix.2007; 12 females from Cassinia flowers, 10 & 13.xi.2002; 5 females from Cassinia , 30.ix.2001; 11 females from Pultenaea flowers, 13.xi.2002; Canberra, Mt Majura , 1 female from Cassinia , 2.ix.1995.

Comments. Specimens taken near Canberra are considerably more robustly sculptured than specimens from Lord Howe Island. This species is very similar to several wingless Anaphothrips species that have 9- segmented antennae, particularly A. cucurbiti that also lacks a comb on abdominal tergite VIII but has the major setae more slender. Amongst the species with 8-segmented antennae, this one is unique in lacking a comb.

Figures

FIGURES 13–23. Anaphothrips of Australia. A. aptilotus 13–16: (13) pterothorax and tergites I–II; (14) tergites VI–VIII; (15) male tergite IX; (16) antenna. A. astrolomi 17–20; (17) male tergite VIII–IX (Nomarski); (18) male tergite VIII–IX (phase-contrast); (19) antenna; (20) male sternites. A. atriplicis 21–23: (21) meso & metanotum; (22) tergites VI–VIII; (23) antenna.