Odontothrips pitkini, Alavi & Minaei, 2022

Alavi, Jalil & Minaei, Kambiz, 2022, The genus Odontothrips in Iran with two new species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Zootaxa 5125 (4), pp. 379-388 : 385-387

Odontothrips pitkini sp. n.

( Figs 18–33 )

Female macroptera. Body brown, fore tibiae yellowish brown with darker margins, fore tarsi yellow, mid and hind tarsi yellowish brown ( Fig. 18 ); antennal segments brown except III, I–II darkest, as dark as head, III yellow to brownish yellow, IV–V with yellowish basal ring ( Fig. 19 ). Fore wings brown, more or less unclear banded ( Fig. 29 ). Head slightly wider than long; ocellar setae III arising at middle of anterior margin of ocellar triangle, longer than other head setae ( Fig. 26 ); five pairs of postocular setae arranged in one row, S1 and S4 setae slightly longer than remaining setae, S2 and S4 setae slightly behind setal row ( Fig. 26 ). Inner sense cone of segment VI occupying less than half the length of the segment, slightly concave on outer margin, base of sense cone about 0.9 times as long as total length of the sense cone ( Fig. 20 ); segment II with one inner small tooth distally, bearing a long apical seta; segment III elongate, cylinder-shape, inner margin straight, outer margin slightly concave ( Figs 21–22 ). Pronotum wider than long, without lines of sculpture medially, with about 9–11 pairs of discal setae, two pairs of long posteroangular setae, four pairs of posteromarginal setae, median pair longest and slightly in front of setal row ( Fig. 26 ). Metascutum with distinct median reticulations, with transverse striae anteriorly and longitudinal striae laterally; median pair of setae situated slightly behind anterior margin; one pair of campaniform sensilla usually present ( Fig. 27 ). Fore tarsi without teeth or tubercles;

inner apex of fore tibia with one strong seta, also one small tooth more ventrally bearing a weak seta (23–25). Fore wing first vein with 4+(9–12)+2 setae; second vein with 10–12 setae; clavus with 5 marginal and one discal seta ( Fig. 29 ). Abdominal tergite I transversely reticulate; II–VIII with transverse lines of sculpture laterally reaching S1setae, with weak lines of sculpture anteromedially, II with three lateral setae; VIII with posteromarginal comb interrupted medially, posterior margin of III–VII without microtrichia laterally; IX with two pairs of campaniform sensilla, tergite X median longitudinal split 0.5 times as long as length of the segment, extending to insertion of setae S1 ( Fig. 28 ). Abdominal sternite I with three small setae between hind coxae, III–VIII with three pairs of posteromarginal setae, median pair situated in front of posterior margin on VII.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1650. Head, length 120; width across eyes 150; cheeks 160. Ocellar setae III length 75–77. Pronotum, length 145, maximum width 200; posteroangular setae length outer 62, inner 75–78. Metanotum median setae length 62. Fore wing, length 850. Abdominal tergite IX setae length: S1 145, S2 155, S3 138. Antennal segments I–VIII length 28, 38, 63, 53, 38, 58, 12, 17; sensorium on antennal VI length 27, length of base 25.

Male macroptera. Body colour almost same as female, but fore wings distinctly banded ( Fig. 30 ); antennae almost same colour as female, segment III yellow, paler than in female. Fore wing distinctly banded, brown at the extreme base, paler on the first quarter, brown with a paler area in the middle and darkening at extreme apex ( Fig. 31 ). Abdominal tergite IX with S2 setae longer than S1 and S3 setae, paired thorn-like processes at posterior margin ( Fig. 33 ), S1 setae slightly stout, distance between setae S1 on tergite IX 0.6–0.7 times as long as their length; genitalia without canaliculi and endothecal spines, parameres basally with a series of ridges dorsally ( Fig. 33 ); sternites IV–VII with a posteromedially minute glandular opening ( Fig. 32 ).

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1200. Head, length 88, width across eyes 130. Ocellar setae III length 68. Pronotum, length 123, maximum width 155; Antennal segments I–VIII length 23, 35, 58, 48, 33, 50, 8, 12.

Material examined. Holotype: female, IRAN: Fars province, Shiraz, Badjgah , from flowering Astragalus sp. (Fabaceae) , 7.v.2013. K. Minaei .

Paratypes: 5 females, same data as holotype; Shiraz , Bamu National Park , 1 female, 2 males, from flowering Astragalus sp. , 28.iv.1999; 3 females, 5 males, same locality and host, 16.iv.2021 . (K. Minaei).

Etymology. This new species is named after the late Brian R. Pitkin.

Remarks. In the key by zur Strassen (2003) this species runs to O. ramadei which is described from Italy. O. pitkini sp. n. and O. ramadei are unique among the known species of Odontothrips in having antennal segment II with a tooth distally on the inner margin. These species are also similar in lacking teeth on the fore tarsi, having one small tooth at the fore tibia apex, and fore wing banded particularly in males. The females of these two species are not distinguishable, but the male of the new species is different from the male of O. ramadei in lacking canaliculi, in lacking a sub-apically directed strong tooth on the parameres (see Bournier 1990, p. 201, Fig. 1b ), and in having a series of dorsal fine ridges on the parameres medially ( Fig. 33 ). The male of O. pitkini sp. n. is further distinguished from O. bezii sp. n. by presence of a tooth on antennal segment II as well as the fore wings.

Figures

FIGURES 18–33. Odontothrips pitkini sp. n. Female 18–29: (18) body, (19) antennal segments I–VIII, (20) antennal segments VI–VIII, (21–22) antennal segments I–III, (23–25) fore tarsus and apex of fore tibia (25 lateral views), (26) head & pronotum, (27) meso- & metanotum, (28) abdominal tergites VIII–X, (29) fore wing. Male 30–33: (30) body, (31) fore wing, (32) abdominal sternites IV– VII, (33) abdominal tergites XI–X and genitalia.

FIGURES 1–5. Odontothrips species. (1–3) Fore tarsus and apex of fore tibia, female: (1) O. meliloti, (2) O. moritzi, (3) O. confusus. (4–5) Abdominal tergites XI–X and genitalia, male: (4) O. meliloti, (5) O. confusus.