Azaleothrips pulcher, Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014

Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014, Species-richness in the Oriental fungus-feeding thrips of the genus Azaleothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3846 (3), pp. 301-347 : 334-335

Azaleothrips pulcher sp.n.

( Figs 104–110 )

Female macroptera. Body bicolorous brown and yellow. Head and tube brown to dark brown, tube yellowish at base. Prothorax yellow, shaded with brown anterolaterally; mesothorax brown, a little paler than head; metathorax yellow, shaded with brown anterolaterally, anterior 2/3 of metanotum brown. Abdominal segment I yellow, weakly shaded with brown laterally; segment II brown, yellowish at middle; segments III to VI brownish yellow to yellowish brown, with brown markings at both sides, but extreme outer and posterior margins yellow; segment VII brown, yellowish brown at middle, yellow at anterior 3/5 of lateral margins; segment VIII brownish yellow, shaded with pale brown laterally; segments III to VIII each with a (or a pair of) median irregularly shaped brown marking(s) at just behind of antecostal suture; segment IX brownish yellow, shaded with brown posteriorly.

Antennal segment II brown, a little paler than head, segment III yellow, basal 1/6 to 1/5 of segment IV yellowish; the rest of antennae dark brown. Fore and hind coxae yellow, mid coxae pale brown; fore femora yellow, shaded with pale brown anterolaterally ( Fig. 107 ); mid and hind femora brown, with bases and apices yellow; all tibiae yellow. Fore wing shaded with pale brown, paler at basal 1/4 and median constriction.

Head ( Fig. 104 ) almost as long as wide; dorsal surface strongly sculptured with reticles, with delicate wrinkles among reticles, not tuberculate. Postocular setae shorter than half the length of compound eye. Antennal segment VII and VIII not closely joined ( Fig. 105 ); segments VII + VIII a little longer than segment III; segment IV almost as long as segment III; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 106 ) sculptured with lines of reticulation, not tuberculate, with 24 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 108 ) with small dentate microtrichia or tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth or very weakly coarse among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 108 ) longitudinally reticulate or striate at anterior 2/3, with polygonal reticulations at posterior 1/3, with internal small dots among striae or reticles, anterior half with 3 to 5 short setae (4 in holotype). Fore tarsus with a small tooth ( Fig. 107 ). Fore wing with 6/7 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta weakly reticulate, without wrinkles among reticles. S1 setae of abdominal tergite IX longer than half the length of tube; S2 setae on tergite IX expanded at apex. Tube about 0.6 times as long as head. Anal setae longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 1870. Head length 188, width across cheeks 186. Pronotum length 130, width 196. Fore wing length about 650. Tube length 113, width across base 54. Antenna length about 350, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 54 (32), 55 (30), 50 (25), 45 (24), 32 (22), 22 (12). Postocular setae 30. S1 setae on tergite IX 65, S2 setae on tergite IX 75. Anal setae 140.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Abdominal segments III to VII more or less paler than those of female, shaded with brown anterolaterally, segment VIII yellowish. Fore legs stout in large male. Fore wing with 5/7 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, widely developed ( Fig. 110 ). S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex, shorter than S1.

Measurements (paratype small–large males in microns). Distended body length 1230–1520. Head length 141–170, width across cheeks 143–160. Pronotum length 88–120, width 160–190. Fore wing length 500–550. Tube length 80–88, width across base 45–47. Antenna length 295–335, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 46–52 (27–30), 44–51 (27–28), 40–47 (23), 38–43 (22), 29–33 (20), 19–22 (12). Postocular setae 30–35. S1 setae on tergite IX 45 –52, S2 setae on tergite IX 32 –38. Anal setae 115–125.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Thailand, Phuket Is., nr. Tone Sai Waterfall, on dead leaves and branches, 11.ix.1992 (TN & SO).

Paratypes: Thailand, 10 females and 6 males, collected with holotype; same locality as holotype, 1 female and 1 male, on bamboo, 23.viii.1991, on dead leaves and branches, 3 females and 1 male, 12.ix.1992, 9 females and 10 males, 14.ix.1992 (TN & SO); 2 females and 2 males, Phuket Is., Rang Hill, on dead leaves and branches, 14.ix.1992 (TN & SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group, and is somewhat similar to flavicollis , described above from Bangkok, Thailand. The differences between them are discussed under flavicollis .

Figures

FIGURES 97 – 110. Azaleothrips species. phuketanus sp. n. female 97 – 103: (97) head; (98) antennal segments III & IV; (99) antennal segments VII & VIII; (100) pronotum; (101) right fore leg; (102) meso & metanotum; (103) tergite II. pulcher sp. n. 104 – 110: (104) head, female; (105) antennal segments VII & VIII, female; (106) pronotum, female; (107) right fore leg, female; (108) meso & metanotum, female; (109) tergite II, female; (110) sternite VIII, male.