Haplothrips ganglebaueri Schmutz, 1034

Mound, Laurence A., 2019, Identification of Haplothrips species from Malesia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 4623 (1), pp. 41-50 : 46

Haplothrips ganglebaueri Schmutz

Haplothrips ganglebaueri Schmutz, 1913:1034

Haplothrips angustus Hood, 1919: 77 . Syn.n.

Haplothrips themedae Priesner, 1933: 356 . Syn.n.

( Fig. 16 )

Described originally from Sri Lanka, with synonyms described from Sudan, India and Java (ThripsWiki 2019), this species is also recorded from Iran ( Minaei & Mound 2008), the southern half of Japan ( Okajima 2006), and is here newly recorded from Australia as a result of the above synonymy. One paratype of H. themedae has been studied, from Themeda gigantea , Sumatra, 4.vi.1922 (Fulmek). Despite the statement in the original description concerning a large fore tarsal tooth in H. themedae , no such tooth is visible on this paratype. The specimen has the maxillary stylets rather more deeply retracted than is usual in H. ganglebaueri but cannot otherwise be distinguished. The species described by Hood as H. angustus from New South Wales, Australia, has previously been considered a synonym of H. anceps ( Mound & Minaei 2007) . However, these two are here distinguished on the colour of the pronotal setae, the position of the maxillary stylets, and the shape of the apex of sub-basal seta S3 on the fore wing. Despite the accepted synonymies, genetic differences presumably exist between populations across this vast area, from Iran to eastern Australia. For example, females identified as H. ganglebaueri from Iran and India usually have no visible fore tarsal tooth, whereas females from Malesia, Japan and Australia have a minute or very small tooth. Moreover, the fore wing sub-basal setae S3 varies in length, and in the breadth of its apical expansion. Within Australia, the species has been found mainly in the northern, warmer areas, and the few available specimens from South Australia and Tasmania have the antennae distinctly darker than usual. No significant differences have been found in the shape of the aedeagus between males from different parts of the entire range. This species is particularly associated with species of Cyperaceae and Poaceae , although adults are often taken from other plants. As discussed above, H. ganglebaueri is very similar in structure to H. anceps and related species from Southeast Asia, but has the pronotal major setae pale.

Figures

FIGURES 9–18. Haplothrips species. (9) H. certus head & pronotum; (10) H. anceps head & pronotum; (11) H. jordani head; (12) H. timori head; (13) H. certus fore tarsus. Antenna 14–17: (14) H. certus; (15) H. anceps; (16) H. ganglebaueri; (17) H. gowdeyi. (18) H. incognitus (type).