Vietothrips, Okajima & Masumoto, 2025

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 : 59-60

Vietothrips gen. nov.

Small-sized phlaeothripine species, with several colored large ommatidia ( Fig. 233 ), possibly belonging to the Haplothripini . Head much longer than wide ( Fig. 232 ), with a pair of long postocular setae. Eyes moderately developed, rather close together, with ommatidia distinct, scattered with some colored ommatidia, which are large and distinctly swollen, on ventro-lateral and ventral surfaces. Ocelli well-developed; posterior ocelli recessed into eyes, rather close together; interocellar and postocellar setae minute. Antenna eight-segmented ( Fig. 239 ); segment III with (0+1), segment IV with (1+2) sense cones at least in type-species. Mouth cone short and rounded; maxillary stylets wider apart, sub-parallel, almost reaching middle of head capsule; maxillary bridge distinct. Pronotum small ( Fig. 232 ); four pair of prothoracic setae well-developed, am reduced. Prothoracic notopleural suture complete. Prosternal basantra and ferna well developed ( Fig. 234 ). Mesopresternum transverse. Metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent. Metanotum sculptured with closely spaced longitudinal lines or reticules ( Fig. 235 ), with a pir of short median setae. Fore legs short; fore tarsus with a minute inner hamus. Fore wings scarcely constricted medially ( Fig. 237 ), with no duplicated cilia. Abdominal tergite II–VII each with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, posterior pairs on tergite III–VI well developed. Tube shorter than head, tapering and straight-sided. Terminal setae longer than tube. Male: sternite VIII without pore plate; tergite IX S2 setae much shorter than S1; pseudovirga of genitalia slender.

Type-species. Vietothrips bicolor sp. nov.

Comments. The distinct prosternal basantra and maxillary bridge of this genus are shared with genera belonging to the Haplothripini . Moreover, the slender pseudovirga of the male genitalia is similar to those of Haplothrips species. Vietothrips is possibly related to Thaithrips , and they share compound eyes with several colored large ommatidia on ventral and ventro-lateral surface. From Thaithrips , however, it can be distinguished by the following features: body setae longer; antennal segment IV with three sense cones; eyes and ocelli rather close together; prothoracic midlateral setae well-developed; metanotum sculptured with closely spaced longitudinal lines or reticles; fore tarsus unarmed.

The genus name is derived from the type locality ‘Viêt Nam’. Gender: masculine.

Figures

FIGURES 231–240. Vietothrips bicolor gen. et sp. nov., female. (231) whole body; (232) head and prothorax; (233) compound eyes, ventral surface; (234) prosternum and mesopresternum; (235) metanotum; (236) pelta; (237) fore wing; (238) sub-basal wing setae; (239) antennal segments III–VIII; (240); fore tarsus.