Deplorothrips villosus, Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2016

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2016, Australian mycophagous species of the genus Deplorothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 4208 (3), pp. 201-220 : 218-219

Deplorothrips villosus sp.n.

( Figs 1 , 17 , 32 , 36, 44 )

Female aptera: Body and femora brown, tube darkest, all tibiae and tarsi yellow, antennal segment III yellow in basal half, IV in basal third, V only at base, remaining segments brown.

Antennal segment VIII constricted at base ( Fig. 32 ), III and IV each with 3 sense cones but ventrolateral one smaller than other two. Head slightly longer than wide, without ocelli, reticulate at least on posterior half ( Fig. 1 ); cheeks with 2 or 3 small stout setae; po setae long and capitate; mouth cone pointed; maxillary pillars less than 30 microns long with the levers also very short, maxillary stylets not retracted anterior to occipital ridge, mandible small. Pronotum transverse, weakly reticulate around margins, notopleural sutures not always fully complete, all 5 pairs of major setae capitate, but am setae short. Mesonotum transversely reticulate, lateral setal pair capitate; wing lobe minute, sometimes with one capitate seta. Metanotum transverse, finely reticulate, major setal pair capitate, 6 to 10 minor setae scattered anteromedially ( Fig. 1 ). Fore tarsus with tooth. Prosternal ferna almost meeting medially, mesopraesternum eroded to 3 sclerites. Pelta broadly rounded, reticulate; tergites with 2 pairs of small straight wing-retaining setae; setae S1 and S2 on IX capitate.

Measurements (holotype female aptera in microns). Body length 1930. Head, length 190; width 160; po setae 50; longest cheek seta 15. Pronotum, length 150; width 230; major setae—am 20, aa 35, ml 40, epim 45, pa 40. Mesonotal lateral seta 30. Fore wing lobe 5. Tergite IX setae S1 60, S2 60. Tube length 120. Antennal segments III–VIII length 57, 55, 53, 45, 40, 30.

Male aptera: Small male—similar to female, but sense cones on antennal segments III and IV variable from 2 to 3; pronotal am setae no larger than discal setae; tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternite VIII with broad pore plate ( Fig. 44 ). Large male—with head bearing 6 or more stout cheek setae ( Fig. 17 ); small tubercle present ventrally between eyes; pronotum almost as long as wide, aa and ml setae elongate, pa setae small and pointed; metanotum elevated medially into broadly rounded tubercle ( Fig. 36 ); fore femora and fore tarsal tooth large, fore tibia inner apex thickened but not produced into a tubercle; sternites II–VI with paired transverse rows of specialised reticulation, VIII with broad pore plate ( Fig. 44 ).

Measurements (paratype large male aptera in microns). Body length 2100. Head, length 240; width 160; po setae 75; longest cheek seta 20. Pronotum, length 270; width 300; major setae—am 5, aa 100, ml 100, epim 70, pa 20. Mesonotal lateral seta 20. Fore wing lobe 10. Tergite IX setae S1 75, S2 35. Sternite VIII pore plate dimensions 110 x 30. Tube length 130. Antennal segments III–VIII length 65, 70, 65, 60, 45, 35.

Female macroptera: Similar to female aptera, but ocelli present, antennal segment IV with 4 large sense cones, metanotum more elongate; fore wing with 2 capitate sub-basal setae and 12 duplicated cilia, tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae.

Male macroptera: Similar to male aptera, but ocelli present, antennal segment IV with 4 large sense cones, pronotal am setae no larger than discal setae, metanotum more elongate; fore wing with 2 capitate sub-basal setae and 12 duplicated cilia, tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae.

Material studied. Holotype female aptera, South Australia, 40km SE of Mt Gambier, from Eucalyptus obliqua nuts, 12.iii.2011 ( LAM 5465 ).

Paratypes (all apterae except as noted): South Australia, 6 females, 6 males ; 1 female, 1 male macropterae taken with holotype. Norfolk Island, Palm Grove track, 6 females, 1 male from dead twigs, 22.xii.2012 . Queensland, Brisbane , Mt Glorious, from dead leaves and branches, 1 female, 2 males, 1female, 1 male macropterae, 22.iii.2007 ; Lamington , O’Reilly’s, 1 male, 1 female macroptera, i.2008 ; from dead wood, 1 female, 7.viii.2013, 1 female, 13.iii.2007; Cape Tribulation , 1 female from dead leaves, 7.x.2012 . Tasmania, Huon Valley , 1 male macroptera, 29.v.2001 . Western Australia, 40km N of Albany , fogging Eucalyptus tree, 2 females, 1 male, v.2001 .

Comments. This species differs from other members of the genus as follows: maxillary pillars exceptionally short and stylets not extending anterior to the occipital ridge, antennal segment VIII weakly constricted at base, metanotum with small discal setae antero-medially, and male sternite VIII with broad pore plate ( Fig. 44 ). However, as discussed above, each of these character states varies amongst the Australian species considered here. The number of sense cones on the fourth antennal segments varies between apterae and macropterae, and the largest males have the metanotum elevated into a crest although their fore tibiae do not have a tubercle at the inner apex. The specimens from Norfolk Island, also one female from Queensland, Lamington, have the tibiae with brown shading medially. Three females from Brisbane, Mt Glorious, have been studied with the metanotum similar to villosus , but with the hind tibiae uniformly brown, and the maxillary stylets retracted into the head at least half way to the post ocular setae.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Deplorothrips species, head and thorax. (1) villosus holotype; (2) diaphorus female macroptera; (3) paspalus holotype; (4) regina holotype; (5) virgulatus male paratype; (6) makrus female macroptera; (7) norfuki holotype.

FIGURES 14 – 19. Deplorothrips species, head and thorax. Large males 14 – 17: (14) makrus holotype; (15) minaei holotype; (16) mongai holotype; (17) villosus. Prosternum 18 – 19: (18) deuae (holotype); (19) makrus.

FIGURES 20 – 32. Deplorothrips species, antennae. (20) diaphorus, macroptera, segments IV – VIII ventral; (21) chydaeus; (22) deuae (holotype); (23) howei; (24) makrus; (25) minaei; (26) mongai; (27) norfuki; (28) paspalus; (29) regina; (30) retis; (31) virgulatus; (32) villosus.

FIGURES 33 – 47. Deplorothrips species, metanotum and male sternites. (33) howei, large male, meso and metanotum. (34) regina, metanotum and tergites I – II. (35) retis, metanotum and pelta. (36) villosus, large male, metanotum and tergites I – II. (37) norfuki, holotype metanotum and tergites I – II. Male sternite VIII pore plate 38 – 44: (38) chydaeus; (39) deuae; (40) diaphorus; (41) howei; (42) makrus; (43) mongai; (44) villosus. (45) howei, male fore tarsus & tibia. Male sternites V – VI 46 – 47: (46) capitalis; (47) diaphorus.