Propesolomonthrips mindorensis Reyes

Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2025, Some Poaceae-inhabiting Phlaeothripinae (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) in East Asia, with descriptions of six new genera and 18 new species, Zootaxa 5726 (1), pp. 1-68 : 53-55

Propesolomonthrips mindorensis Reyes

( Figs 201–206 )

Propesolomonthrips mindorensis Reyes, 1994: 475 .

Previously this species has been known only from the unique holotype male taken from bamboo in Mindoro Is., the Philippines. One additional female is recorded here from Mindanao Is., but it was taken from dead branches instead of bamboo. It is very similar to the holotype male in color and structure, and is briefly described below .

Nine females ( Figs 208–211 ) and seven males collected from Java, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia and Vietnam listed below under the doubtful specimens are apparently very similar to this species, and most of them were collected from bamboo. Moreover, these specimens are not clearly distinguishable from the original description of Bamboosiella rugata , and there is a possibility that they are same species. These specimens are slightly different from mindorensis in several structures as follows: postocellar setae longer than a diameter of posterior ocellus; prothoracic anteroangular setae shorter; prospinasternum larger; metanotal sculptures more or less coarser ( Fig. 210 ); pelta sculptured with polygonal reticulation ( Fig. 211 ), instead of longitudinal reticulation ( Fig 205 ); lateral wings of pelta with lateral corners rounded ( Fig. 211 ), instead of pointed ( Fig. 205 ); tergite VIII with only posterior pair of wing-retaining setae in female from Peninsular Malaysia and Vietnum; tergite IX S2 setae of female stouter, clearly expanded at apex, instead of blunt. Thus, two taxonomic problems are involved. One is whether these should be distinguished from Bamboosiella and kept in the genus Propesolomonthrips . The other is whether mindorensis and rugata are different species, or these two are local populations of the same species. In any case, further study will be required in comparison with the original specimens of B. rugata . One important character state, the wing-retaining setae on tergite VIII is not mentioned in the original description of rugata .

Female (macroptera) from Mindanao Is. (This specimen is not in good condition. In particular, the head and antennae are tilted upwards in front). Distended body length: about 1.4mm. Color ( Fig. 201 ) very similar to male. Head a little longer than wide ( Fig. 202 ), widest across eyes; postocellar setae shorter than diameter of posterior ocellus. Eyes well-developed, wider apart ventrally, 0.45 times as long as head. Posterior ocelli about 17µm apart from each other. Postocular setae 96µm apart from each other. Pronotum ( Fig. 202 ) 0.54 times as long as head, about 2.1 times as wide as long, with distinct transverse wrinkles on basal one-third; five pairs of major setae stout, aa and ml shorter than ml, epim a little shorter than postocular setae. Basantra relatively well-developed ( Fig. 203 ). Prospinasternum relatively large. Mesonotal lateral setae long and stout, expanded, about 30µm long. Metanotal median pair of setae 55µm apart from each other, about 30µm apart from anterior margin of metanotum. Fore wings with 4 duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae S2 shorter than S1, S1 and S3 subequal. Tergite IX S2 setae very weakly expanded, longer than S1; intermediate setae about half of S1. Tube ( Fig. 207 ) 0.64 times as long as head, about 2.0 times as long as wide. Other structures including the wing-retaining setae on the tergite VIII are very similar to male description.

Measurements (macropterous female from Mindanao Is. in µm). Body length 1420 (distended). Head length 160, from anterior margin of eyes 140, width across eyes 140, maximum width across cheeks 138, minimum width across base 118; eyes length 75; diameter of posterior ocelli 15–20; postocular setae 45. Antenna total length 270, segments III–VIII length as follows: 36, 38, 37, 38, 35, 23. Pronotum length 86, width 178. Setae on prothorax: am 35, aa 20, ml 25, pa 41–43, epim about 40. Fore wing length 610. Sub-basal wing setae: S1 40, S2 30, S3 40. Pelta length 50, width 83. Tergite IX setae: S1 65, S2 82–83. Tube length 103, maximum width 50; terminal setae about 110.

Measurements (macropterous female listed under doubtful specimens from Vietnam in µm). Body length 1380 (distended). Head length 150, from anterior margin of eyes 131, width across eyes 138, maximum width across cheeks 133, minimum width across base 111; eyes length 67; diameter of posterior ocelli 12–13; postocular setae 45–50. Antenna total length 290, segments III–VIII length as follows: 40, 39, 38, 38, 32, 30. Pronotum length 85, width 161. Setae on prothorax: am 38, aa? 30, ml? 40, pa 42–43, epim about 50. Fore wing length 540. Sub-basal wing setae: S1 38, S2 45, S3 40. Pelta length 53, width 67. Tergite IX setae: S1 65–67, S2 72–75. Tube length 97, maximum width 48; terminal setae 91-95.

Specimens examined. The Philippines, 1 female, Mindanao Is., Mt. Apo , Agko, alt about 1300m, on dead branches, 30.vii.1979, SO .

Doubtful specimens (these specimens may well be identified to Bamboosiella rugata ). Indonesia, Java, 3 females and 5 males, Banyuwangi, Malan Sari , on bamboo, 27.viii.2005, SO. Peninsular Malaysia, 1 female, about 20km N from Kuala Lumpur, Templer Park , on grass, 15.viii.1990, TN & SO . Vietnam, Lam Dong Province, Bao Loc, Dam Bri , on bamboo, 2 females and 1 male, 26.xii.2001, 2 females and 1 male, 27.xii. 2001, 1 female, 28.xii.2001, SO .

Figures

FIGURES 201–211. Propesolomonthrips mindorensis, female 201–207: (201) whole body; (202) head and prothorax; (203) prosternum and mesopresternum; (204) metanotum; (205) pelta; (206) antenna; (207) tube. P.? mindorensis (listed in the doubtful specimens from Vietnam, and they may can be identified as Bamboosiella rugata), female 208–211: (208) head and prothorax; (209) prosternum and mesopresternum; (210) metanotum; (211) pelta.