Klambothrips oleariae, Mound, Laurence A. & Morris, David C., 2007

Mound, Laurence A. & Morris, David C., 2007, A new thrips pest of Myoporum cultivars in California, in a new genus of leaf-galling Australian Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera), Zootaxa 1495, pp. 35-45 : 43

Klambothrips oleariae sp. n.

Macropterous female. Body dark brown, tarsi brown; antennal segment III yellowish brown and darkest in apical half, IV – VI brown with pedicels paler; major setae hyaline but wing retaining setae dark; forewing clear. With the structural characters indicated in the generic diagnosis; head with compound eyes longer dorsally than ventrally; maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, about one fifth of head width apart medially with a short maxillary bridge. Pronotum with three or four pairs of long capitate setae; midlateral setae variable, usually no larger than discal setae; anteromarginals not distinguished from discal setae. Fore tarsus with no tooth. Forewing with about seven duplicated cilia, and two capitate sub-basal setae. Tergites IV – VI marginal setae S1 broadly rounded at apex; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 with broadly rounded capitate apex, S3 acute; anal setae shorter than tube.

Measurements of paratype female (in microns). Body length 2450. Head, length 270; width 185; postocular setae 15. Pronotum, length 140; median width 280; major setae, aa 65; epim 90; pa 85. Forewing length 850; sub-basal setae 45, 55. Tergite IX setae S1 135; S2 125; S3 135. Tube length 200; anal setae 170. Antennal segments III – VIII length 55, 65, 65, 55, 65, 35.

Macropterous male. Colour and structure similar to female; large male with broadly based fore tarsal tooth and enlarged femora.

Measurements of holotype male. Body length 2150. Head, length 240; width 180; postocular setae 15. Pronotum, length 175; median width 280; major setae, aa 70; epim 80; pa 65. Forewing length 850; sub-basal setae 45, 55. Tergite IX setae S1 125; S2 75; S3 135. Tube length 175; anal setae 170. Antennal segments III – VIII length 55, 60, 60, 55, 60, 35.

Larvae. Mainly white, but sometimes weakly pink; antennae, head, pronotum and abdominal segments IX and X almost black; abdominal setae long and capitate, each arising from a pigmented area; spiracle dark and prominent on mesothorax and abdominal segments II and VIII.

Material studied. Holotype male, Australian Capital Territory, Tidbinbilla, in curled leaf of Olearia lirata , 15.xii.1995 (LAM 2909) in Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra. Paratypes: 1 male, 13 females collected with holotype; same host and locality, 7 females, 1.iii.1996; ACT, Australian National Botanic Gardens, 3 females from O.? lirata curled leaves, 29.i.1996. Victoria, Melbourne Botanic Gardens, 6 males, 7 females in curled leaf of Olearia lirata , 28.iv.2002 (P. Symes).

Comments. Although distorted leaves associated with species of the Teuchothrips complex have been examined from many different plant species in eastern and northern Australia, only K. annulosus and K. oleariae are known from Asteraceae . These two species are distinguished in the key above on character states of the maxillary stylets and the setae on the abdomen. Moreover, in K. oleariae the pronotal midlateral setae are variable, sometimes being longer than the discal setae and almost capitate.