Deplorothrips regina, 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 : 217-218

Deplorothrips regina sp.n.

( Figs 4 , 29. 34 )

Female microptera: Body and femora brown, tergites VI–VIII yellow medially; tibiae and tarsi clear yellow; antennal segment I–II and IV–VIII brown, III yellow, IV pale at base.

Antennal segment VIII slightly constricted at base ( Fig. 29 ), IV–VII with narrow pedicel; III and IV each with three sense cones. Head longer than wide, ocelli absent, cheeks with weak setae ( Fig. 4 ); vertex weakly sculptured; po setae long and capitate; maxillary pillars short, about 35 microns with the levers even shorter and curving dorsally, stylets wide apart, retracted anterior to occipital ridge. Pronotum transverse, without sculpture except near posterior margin; major setae capitate, am setae scarcely 0.5 as long as aa setae. Mesonotum transversely reticulate, lateral setae capitate. Metanotum without sculpture medially ( Fig. 34 ), major setae acute. Fore tarsal tooth shorter than 0.5 of tarsal width. Fore wing lobe with two capitate setae. Prosternal ferna almost meeting medially, mesopraesternum eroded to three small sclerites. Pelta sub-quadrate and reticulate ( Fig. 34 ); tergites III–VII with no sculpture medially, with 2 pairs of small straight wing-retaining setae, lateral major setae long and capitate; setae S1 and S2 on IX long and capitate.

Measurements (holotype female microptera in microns). Body length 1710. Head, length 185; width 160; po setae 55; longest cheek seta 10. Pronotum, length 130; width 230; major setae—am 27, aa 55, ml 50, epim 55, pa 45. Mesonotal lateral seta 35. Fore wing lobe 50. Tergite IX setae S1 80, S2 75. Tube length 110. Antennal segments III–VIII length 52, 50, 52, 45, 45, 33.

Material studied. Holotype female microptera, Queensland, Brisbane, Buhot Creek Reserve, from barkspray, 27.vi.2011 (Monteith & Turco; DJT 1297).

Paratypes: Queensland, one female taken with holotype; West of Cooktown, Melody Rocks , 2 females from barkspray in rainforest, 9.xi.2014 ; Brisbane, Mt. Glorious , 1 female from dead branch, 19.i.2006 ; Lamington, O’Reillys , 1 female from dead leaves, 9.x.2006 .

Comments. Although known only from six females, the pale colour of their abdominal tergites is distinctive, and the sculpture on the pelta is almost uniformly reticulate. The pronotal anteromarginal setae are minute in the last two listed paratypes, but are longer in the other four specimens and varying from blunt to capitate.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Deplorothrips species, head and thorax. (1) villosus holotype; (2) diaphorus female macroptera; (3) paspalus holotype; (4) regina holotype; (5) virgulatus male paratype; (6) makrus female macroptera; (7) norfuki holotype.

FIGURES 20 – 32. Deplorothrips species, antennae. (20) diaphorus, macroptera, segments IV – VIII ventral; (21) chydaeus; (22) deuae (holotype); (23) howei; (24) makrus; (25) minaei; (26) mongai; (27) norfuki; (28) paspalus; (29) regina; (30) retis; (31) virgulatus; (32) villosus.

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.