Deplorothrips capitalis, 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 : 209-210

Deplorothrips capitalis sp.n.

( Figs 9 , 46 )

Male microptera: Body legs and antennae brown, tarsi and apices of fore tibiae paler, antennal segment III pale in basal half.

Antennal segment VIII broad at base, IV–VII evenly narrowed to pedicel; III with 3 sense cones, IV with 4 sense cones. Head longer than wide, ocelli small, cheeks with prominent setae; vertex with little or no sculpture except near posterior margin; po setae long and weakly capitate; maxillary pillars less than 50 microns long, stylets retracted more than half way to po setae, about one third of head width apart with faint maxillary bridge ( Fig. 9 ). Pronotum with strong median longitudinal apodeme, without sculpture; am setae minute, remaining setae capitate. Mesonotum with weak transverse lines, lateral setal pair minute, wing lobe small with one capitate seta. Metanotum without sculpture, median setal pair slender and acute. Fore femora stout, fore tarsal tooth about as long as tarsal width, fore tibia with small subapical tubercle ( Fig. 9 ). Prosternal ferna not meeting medially, mesopraesternum eroded to two small sclerites. Pelta broadly hat-shaped, sculpture weak ( Fig. 9 ); tergites II–VII with no sculpture, with 2 pairs of small, straight wing-retaining setae, lateral major setae weakly capitate but not elongate; tergite IX setae S1 capitate, S2 short and pointed. Sternites III–VI with transverse rows of reticulation anterolaterally ( Fig. 46 ), VIII with transversely oval pore plate.

Measurements (holotype male in microns). Body length 1800. Head, length 195; width 160; po setae 57; longest cheek seta 15. Pronotum, length 160; width 230; major setae—am 5, aa 55, ml 35, epim 50, pa 25. Fore wing length 40. Tergite IX setae S1 75, S2 35. Sternite VIII pore plate dimensions 50 x 15. Tube length 100. Antennal segments III–VIII length 60, 57, 55, 45, 42, 25.

Female microptera: Essentially similar to male; fore tarsal tooth slender, fore tibia without subapical tubercle; sternites without reticulate areas or pore plate; tergite IX setae S1 capitate, S2 blunt.

Female macroptera: Similar in colour and structure; fore tarsal tooth slender; fore wing weakly shaded on distal half, with 6 duplicated cilia; tergites II–VII each with two pairs of sigmoid setae.

Material studied. Holotype male microptera, Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Black Mt. , from old dead wood, 12.xii.1996 ( LAM 3067 ).

Paratypes (micropterae except as noted): Australian Capital Territory, 1 female macroptera, 2 females, 2 males taken with holotype; same site, from Eucalyptus dead branches, 2 females, 2 males, 30.iv.2011, 1 male, 6.iii.2011 ; Canberra, Oakey Hill , 3 female macropterae from dead Eucalyptus twigs, 5.iii.2011 ; Namadji , 6 female macropterae, 1 female, 4 males with larvae on dry Eucalyptus branch, 13.ix.2015 ; 1 female 1 male macropterae, 23.iv.2011; 3 female 1 male macropterae, 3 males, 21.xi.2010.

Comments. The mid and hind tibiae are variable in colour amongst the specimens listed, but are darker than in individuals of the other species. The maxillary levers of many of the specimens examined are rotated, such that the stylets are not in their normal retracted position. Relationships of this species are discussed below under the species deuae . One female macroptera has been studied from southern Queensland, Lamington, O’Reillys, that possibly represents this species, but the stylets are disrupted.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 13. Deplorothrips species, head and thorax. (8) chydaeus female; (9) capitalis holotype; (10) howei holotype; (11) minaei female; (12) retis holotype; (13) deuae female.

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.