Anaphothrips exocarpoides, 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 : 35-36

Anaphothrips exocarpoides sp. n.

( Figs 83–85 )

Female macroptera. Body and legs yellow, abdominal tergites with paired pale brown shadings anterolaterally; antennal segment I white, II brown, III brownish yellow, IV–IX pale brown; fore wing very weakly shaded; tergite IX major setae pale and setaceous. Head with weak transverse anastomosing striae behind eyes not extending to ocellar region; ocellar setae III just within anterior margins of ocellar triangle; eyes without pigmented facets. Antennae 9-segmented; segment II with few or no microtrichia, III–IV with sensorium forked; VI weakly pedicellate; suture transverse between VI–VII. Pronotum with weak transverse lines, all setae small. Metascutum reticulate ( Fig. 83 ); median setae near anterior margin; MCS present. Fore wings first vein with 9–10 setae basally, 2 setae medially, 2 setae distally; second vein with about 13 setae including 1–2 setae basal to vein fork; clavus with 5–6 marginal setae and one basal seta. Abdominal tergites III–VII with no sculpture medially; laterally with anastomosing striae but microtrichia scarcely developed; tergite VIII with long regular comb ( Fig. 84 ). Sternite VII median setae S1 far apart and distant from margin, S2 arising slightly anterior to margin ( Fig. 85 )(rarely at margin).

Measurements (holotype, in microns). Body length 1250. Head, length 100; width across eyes 135. Pronotum, length 115; maximum width 160. Fore wing, length 730; median width 50; first vein longest seta in basal row 25. Tergite IV S1 setae 10. Tergite IX, MD setae 12; PM S1 setae 70. Tergite X PM S1 setae 80. Antennal segments III–IX, 45, 40, 38, 40, 10, 7, 12.

Male unknown.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera, Australian Capital Territory, Black Mountain , from Exocarpos cupressiformis leaves, 30.x.2002 ( LAM 4204 ).

Paratypes, all from E. cupressiformis leaves except where indicated: 7 females taken with holotype; same locality, 11 females, 28.xi.2002 (M. Masumoto) ; A.C. T., 20km east of Araluen , 6 females, 20.iv.2000 , 5 females 2.iii.2002 . New South Wales, Orange, Mt Canobolas , 7 females, 12.ii.2002 . Victoria, Healesville , 2 females 23.iii.1996 ; 20km west of Mallacoota , 1 female, 29.xii.2004 . South Australia, Adelaide, Crafers , 5 females, 20.xii.2002 ; Whyalla, Middleback , 1 female 4.v.1999; Blanchtown 5km west, 2 females from flowers? of E. aphylla , 26.iv.1995 . Queensland, Brisbane, Mt Glorious , 4 females from Exocarpos leaves, 1.xi.2007 .

Comments. The significance of this species is difficult to assess. Most specimens have come from Exocarpos cupressiformis (Santalaceae) , on which it has been taken commonly at the type locality, during several years, but also at other sites in the vicinity, and in various other places in southeastern Australia between Brisbane and Melbourne. However, no males have ever been found, despite much collecting activity targeted at this tree species. The thrips is usually found in association with A. exocarpi , of which it may be merely a parthenogenetic form with setaceous rather than spatulate setae The females are particularly similar in structure to those of A. epacrida , despite the very different host-plant associations.

Figures

FIGURES 83–91. Anaphothrips of Australia. A. exocarpoides 83–85: (83) meso & metanotum; (84) tergites VI–VIII; (85) sternites VI–VII. A. geleznowiae 86–87: (86) antenna; (87) tergites VII–VIII. A. geijerae 88–91: (88) antenna; (89) tergites VI–VIII; (90) clavus with meso & metanotum; (91) head & pronotum.