Aliceathrips mnestes sp.n.

(Figs 9–16)

Female macroptera. Body and legs yellow, fore femora external margins shaded brown, abdominal segments IX–X brownish yellow but particularly shaded near posterior margins; antennal segment I white, II brown, III pale with extreme apex shaded, IV–V pale with apical quarter light brown, VI–VIII brown; fore wings and all major setae pale. With the character states in the generic diagnosis; antennae 7-segmented (Fig. 16), III–IV with sensorium simple. Ocellar setae III 1.0–1.5 as long as an ocellus (Fig. 9); metanotum weakly reticulate medially, median setae varying in distance from anterior margin (Fig. 13); mesosternal anterior margin with about 6 setae; tergite IX median dorsal setae slightly stouter than posterior setae and extending just beyond tergal posterior margin (Fig. 15), posterior setal pair I shorter than pair II; X with median split incomplete; sternite II with 1–3 discal setae, III–VII with 5–9 discal setae (Fig. 10).

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1280. Head length 135; width across eyes 135; ocellar setae III 20. Pronotum, length 110; maximum width 135; pa inner setae 25; pa outer setae 30. Fore wing length 550. Metanotal median setae 12. Tergite IX median dorsal setae 45; marginal setae S1 75; S2 125. Tergite X setae S1 115. Antennal segments III–VII length 40, 35, 35, 45, 20.

Male macroptera. Smaller and paler than female; tergite IX with pair of elongate curved processes (Figs 11, 12); sternites with no pore plates.

Material studied. Holotype female, Northern Territory, 70km south of Darwin, Litchfield Park, from grasses, 31.xii.1995 (LAM2941).

Paratypes: 11 females, 2 males taken with holotype; same locality, 14 females from grass by pool, 26.xii.1996. Queensland, Badu Island, 1 female, 1 male, 18.xi.2009.

Comments. The females of this species are closely similar to those of A. australiensis, but the antennae are 7- segmented and the males have a unique pair of processes on the posterior margin of tergite IX.