Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann, 1900

Dang, Lihong, Tong, Xiaoli & Mound, Laurence A., 2024, New synonymy among gall thrips of the Asian genus Mesothrips, with revision of species from China (Thysanoptera, Haplothripini), ZooKeys 1196, pp. 121-138 : 121

Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann

Figs 5 , 18 , 22

Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann, 1900: 16.

Leptothrips angusticollis Karny, 1915: 88. Syn. nov.

Mesothrips annamensis Priesner, 1929b: 215. Syn. nov.

Leptothrips constrictus Karny, 1912: 150. Syn. nov.

Material examined.

1♀, China, Shaanxi, Hanzhong , 10.iv.2016, Kan Liu and Hui Lin (SNUT) ; 1♀, Fujian, Xiamen , from gall of Ficus sp. [ Moraceae ], 23.vi.2015, Lihong Dang (SNUT) ; 1♀ 1♂, Yunnan, Puer , from Ficus concinna [ Moraceae ], 11.vii.2022, Yanqiao Li (SNUT) ; 4♂, Hainan, Diaoluoshan , from Ficus sp. [ Moraceae ], 5.iv.1984, Weiqiu Zhang (SCAU) ; 1♀ 1♂, Guangxi, Nanning , from Ficus sp. [ Moraceae ], 3.viii.1985, Weiqiu Zhang (SCAU) ; 1♀ 1♂, Guangdong, Guangzhou, Fanyu , from Ficus microcarpa [ Moraceae ], 17.v.2009, Jiaqian Gao (SCAU) ; 9♀, Yunnan, Simao , 9 females from Ficus [ Moraceae ], 4.viii.2010 (ANIC). Syntypes, 1♀ 1♂ of Mesothrips annamensis , Vietnam, Vinh Tan , on Citrus sp. [ Rutaceae ], 7.iii.1925 (SMF). Lectotype , 1♀ of Mesothrips angusticollis , Indonesia, Java, on Anonaceae sp., 1.ix.1912 (SMF). Syntype , 1♀ of Mesothrips constrictus , Indonesia, Java, Semarang , in leaf galls of Ficus benjamina [ Moraceae ], 16.i.2012 (SMF). Holotype and paratype , 1♀ 1♂ of bianchii, Australia, Queensland, Atherton , from Ficus leaves [ Moraceae ], 31.iii.68 (ANIC) ; 5♀ 1♂, Cairns , from Ficus leaves [ Moraceae ], 12.xi.2007 (ANIC) ; 4♀ 3♂, Noosa Heads , from Ficus leaves [ Moraceae ], 31.iii.1995 (ANIC) ; 12♀ 10♂, Brisbane, Mt Cootha , from Ficus benjamina [ Moraceae ], 13.v.1994 (ANIC) . 3♀, TIMOR LESTE. Dili , from Ficus microcarpa leaves [ Moraceae ], 26.viii.2018 (ANIC) . 1♀ 1♂, Malaysia, Kualar Lumpur , from Ficus benjamina leaf gall [ Moraceae ], 4.x.1973 (ANIC) . 1♀ 1♂, the Philippines, Quezon, from Ficus [ Moraceae ], 23.x.2011 (ANIC) . 7♀ 3♂, Thailand, Ang Thong, from Ficus leaf folds [ Moraceae ], 9.vi.2018 (ANIC) . 2♀, Israel, Tel Aviv, from Ficus microcarpa [ Moraceae ], i.2014 (ANIC) .

Comments.

This species was described from both sexes and larvae, and the author reported it to be common on Ficus leaves at the Botanic Gardens in Buitenzorg [= Bogor], Java. Priesner described M. annamensis from two males and one female taken at a coastal locality in Vietnam, and two of these specimens have been studied here. Karny described M. angusticollis from an unspecified number of specimens on Annonaceae in Java, without further details. The M. angusticollis specimen listed above bears this data as quoted by Priesner (1929a), and the slide is labelled ‘Lectotype’ but that designation apparently was never formally published. Karny (1912) described M. constrictus from both sexes taken in leaf galls on Ficus benjamina in northern Java and syntypes have been studied as listed above. These three species have the distinctive fore wing pattern that is here considered to be typical of M. jordani . A further slide labelled as Leptothrips constrictus with four specimens (in SMF) has been studied that was collected at the same site as that species. However, those four specimens have fully clear fore wings, are labelled as collected from Schoutenia ovata , and are here considered to represent M. schouteniae . As mentioned above, and judging from the description, M. apatelus from India is possibly the same species as M. jordani . In descriptions by Ananthakrishnan the lengths of the tergite IX setae and the pronotal epimeral setae are given considerable importance for distinguishing species. The tergite IX setae S1 in M. jordani are variable between samples, from slightly longer to slightly shorter than the tube. Similarly, in a single sample of six M. longisetis specimens from Java, these setae are usually distinctly longer than the tube but in one of two males they are shorter. Among specimens here identified as M. jordani on Ficus leaves from various sites, the pronotal posteroangular setae are commonly slightly longer than the epimeral setae. However, in two specimens from Ficus benjamina galls in Malaya they are only half as long as the epimerals. Arbitrary use of differences in lengths of these setae to distinguish species, without consideration of variation within and between populations, may be misleading.

Figures

Figures 2 - 7. Head and pronotum 2 M. longistylus sp. nov. 3 M. jianfengi sp. nov. 4 M. vernicia sp. nov. 5 M. jordani 6 M. vitripennis (paratype female of Mesothrips moundi) 7 M. sus (syntype female).

Figures 14 - 25. Mesothrips spp. Meso- and metanotum (14 - 15) 14 M. jianfengi sp. nov. 15 M. longistylus sp. nov.; M. longistylus sp. nov. (16 - 17) 16 pelta 17 tergites III-IV; fore wings (18 - 20) 18 M. jordani 19 M. vitripennis 20 M. longistylus sp. nov., sub-basal setae of forewing; tergites II-III (21 - 23) 21 M. vernicia sp. nov., tergite III 22 M. jordani 23 M. claripennis; tergites IX-X (24 - 25) 24 M. longistylus sp. nov. 25 M. vernicia sp. nov.