Aeolothrips melaleucus Haliday, 1852

Masumoto, Masami & Okajima, Shûji, 2019, Review of the Aeolothripidae (Thysanoptera) in Japan, Zootaxa 4564 (2), pp. 301-326 : 314

Aeolothrips melaleucus Haliday

( Figs 7 , 19 , 56–60 )

Aeolothrips (Coleothrips) melaleuca Haliday, 1852: 1117 .

Diagnosis. Female macroptera. Body length about 1.9–2.0 mm. Body uniformly dark brown ( Fig. 7 ); antennal segments I–II dark brown, III yellow, IV yellowish brown with apex shaded, V–IX brown; fore wings with two dark bands connected along posterior margin, dark area between the two bands extending beyond second vein, apex white, extreme base often slightly shaded, vein not shaded on pale area; all legs dark brown, tarsi slightly paler; prominent body setae brown. Head weakly arched at cheeks ( Fig. 56 ). Antennal segment V about 0.9 times as long as combined length of VI–IX ( Fig. 57 ). Antennal segments I–IX ratio length/width as follows: 1.0, 1.7, 4.4, 3.3, 2.3, 1.1, 1.0, 1.5, 1.6. Pronotum weakly sculptured along posterior margin, smooth medially, with about 40 small discal setae and no long and stout setae. Mesonotum with lateral setae much longer and stouter than median pair of setae; anteromedian CPS present or absent. Metascutum with rather transverse polygonal reticulations medially; CPS present or absent ( Fig. 58 ). Abdominal tergite I with or without posteromedian CPS; tergite IX usually with a minor setae between S1 setae; sternite VII with two pairs of accessory setae anterior to major setae between S1 and S2 setae, interval between S1 setae much wider than interval between S1 and S2 setae ( Fig. 59 ). Spermatheca with or without several internal teeth at each side ( Fig. 60 ).

Male. Unknown in Japan: mid coxae each with transverse ridges and a large tooth-like tubercle ventrally, abdominal tergite IX with simple claspers and geniculate lateral setae ( Alavi & Minaei, 2018).

Specimens studied. JAPAN: Honshu, Nagano Pref., Sugadaira, nr. Nippon Sport Science University, 1 female on Quercus crispula [ Fagaceae ], 8.vi.1995, T.Tsutsumi (FU). Yamanashi Pref., Hokuto City, nr. Tokusatoge (alt. about 1400m): 3 females on flowers of Lespedeza sp., 22.viii.2006, M.Masumoto (TUA). RUSSIA, Saghalien: Holotype female of A. concinus on beating, 2.viii.1930, C. Watanabe (HU) [“taken from a some flowers of meadow grasses at Konuma, Saghalien” in the original description Isida (1931)]. FRANCE, St. Jean de Vedas, 1 female, 20.iv.1976 (TUA).

Remarks. This species is widespread in the Holarctic region. In Japan, it is known from mountainous areas. Kudo (1971) synonymized A. concinus described from Saghalien by Isida (1931) with A. melaleucus and recorded as A. melaleucus from Yamanashi Prefecture, central Honshu, Japan. Japanese specimens and the holotype of concinus have spermatheca with internal teeth at each side, but no teeth appear to be present in a European female studied, although that specimen is not in good condition without KOH treatment. Japanese specimens are identical to concinus and probably they are distinct species, but revisional study of melaleucus is needed.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Aeolothrips species. A. fasciatus, 1–2: (1) Female; (2) Male. (3) A. fukushimensis, sp. n., female. A. kurosawai, 4–5: (4) Female; (5) Male. (6) A. luteolus, female; (7) A. melaleucus, female (a: From Honshu; b: holotype of A. concinus).

FIGURES 15–24. Fore wings of Aeolothripidae, female. (15) Aeolothrips fasciatus; (16) A. fukushimensis sp. n.; (17) A. kurosawai; (18) A. luteolus; (19) A. melaleucus from Honshu; (20) A. setosus sp. n.; (21) A. vittatus; (22) Desmidothrips japonicus sp. n. (23) Franklinothrips oblongus sp. n.; (24) F. vespiformis.

FIGURES 56–60. Aeolothrips melaleucus, female from Honshu. (56) Head & pronotum; (57) Antennal segments III–IX; (58) Mesonotum & metascutum; (59) Sternite VII; (60) Spermatheca, dorsal aspect (a: From Honshu; b: holotype of concinus; c: From France).