Lefroyothrips Priesner, 1938

Mound, L. A. & Ng, Y. F., 2021, Studies on the genus Lefroyothrips, with new records from Malaysia, New Caledonia and a new species from Australia (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 4927 (4), pp. 567-575 : 568

Lefroyothrips Priesner

Taeniothrips (Lefroyothrips) Priesner, 1938: 499 .

Type species Physothrips lefroyi Bagnall.

Lefroyothrips Priesner ; Bhatti, 1978: 188.

In erecting this genus, Priesner described two new species from Java and Sumatra, although both are now considered synonyms of lefroyi . This type species differs from the other known species in the genus in having ocellar setae pair III very small ( Fig. 8 ), in having the postocular setae arranged in an irregular pair of rows not in a single row, and in having the metascutum strongly reticulate ( Fig. 14 ). All of the known males in the genus have a set of six thorn-like setae on tergite IX ( Figs 20–21 , 25 ), but the male sternites bear pore plates in three species although not in two species (male not known for tribulationi sp.n.). Further remarkable differences among the included species are in the fore wing banding pattern, as indicated in the key below, in the presence of additional setae medially on the metascutum of two species, L. fasciatus and L. tribulationi ( Figs 11–12, 15 ), in the form of antennal segments III–IV ( Figs 1–6 ), and in the length of ocellar setae pair III from 15 to 80 microns.

Generic diagnosis: Head wider than long, vertex with median transverse ridge; ocellar setae pair I arranged irregularly one in front of the other, setae pair III long or short; 5 or 6 pairs of postocular setae; compound eyes without pigmented facets. Antennae 8-segmented; segment I without paired dorso-apical setae; III and IV with sense cones forked; segment II with microtrichia on dorsal surface, III–VI with microtrichia on both surfaces. Pronotum with two pairs of long posteroangular setae, posterior margin with 3 or 4 pairs of setae. Mesonotum transversely reticulate, median setae in front of posterior margin; anterior CPS present. Metascutum variably reticulate, setal pairs usually at anterior margin, paired CPS on posterior third of sclerite. Prosternal ferna complete medially; basantra membranous, without setae; prospinasternum broad and transverse. Mesosternum with sternopleural sutures complete; endofurca with spinula. Metasternal endofurca without spinula. Fore wing first vein with row of setae on basal half, 2 or 3 setae on distal half; second vein setal row complete; clavus with one discal and 5 veinal setae, subapical seta longest. Tarsi 2-segmented. Tergites without ctenidia or craspeda, tergal setae S1 small and wide apart, arising between campaniform sensilla; VIII with group of microtrichia anterior to spiracle, posterior margin with regular comb of long microtrichia ( Figs 17–20 ); IX with 2 pairs of CPS; X with median split almost complete. Pleurotergites without discal setae. Sternites III–VII without discal setae, 3 pairs of marginal setae, sternite VII posteromarginal setae long, S1 arising in front of posterior margin, S2 either at or in front of margin ( Fig. 22 ). Male similar to female; tergite IX with three pairs of stout, dark, thorn-like setae ( Figs 20–21 , 25 ); sternites without discal setae, with or without pore plates ( Figs 26–27 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Lefroyothrips species. Antennal segments, 1–6: (1) fasciatus holotype; (2) fasciatus male; (3) lefroyi; (4) pictus paratype; (5) tribulationi; (6) varatharajani. 7–8 lefroyi: (7) female; (8) head & pronotum. L. tribulationi, 9–10: (9) head; (10) pronotum.

FIGURES 11–16. Lefroyothrips species—metascutum. (11) fasciatus holotype; (12) fasciatus paratype male; (13) fasciatus male; (14) lefroyi; (15) tribulationi; (16) varatharajani.

FIGURES 17–23. Lefroyothrips species. Female tergites VII–X, 17–19: (17) lefroyi; (18) pictus; (19) tribulationi. male tergite IX, 20–21: (20) pictus; (21) fasciatus. (22) lefroyi female sternites VI–VII. (23) fasciatus fore wing.

FIGURES 24–27. Lefroyothrips species. L. varatharajani 24–26: (24) head; (25) male tergites VIII–IX; (26) male sternites. (27) L. lefroyi male sternites.