Haplothrips maroccanus Priesner, 1950

Minaei, Kambiz & Mound, Laurence A., 2008, The Thysanoptera Haplothripini (Insecta: Phlaeothripidae) of Iran, Journal of Natural History 42 (41 - 42), pp. 2617-2658 : 2646-2648

Haplothrips maroccanus Priesner

Haplothrips maroccanus Priesner, 1950, p. 87 .

Haplothrips iraniensis Priesner, 1954, p. 55 . syn. n. Priesner described H. iraniensis from three females taken in flowers of Amygdalus spartioides from Tang-Ab, Firouzabad, Fars Province, Iran. Priesner stated that the closest relative was H. maroccanus , but in H. iraniensis the pronotal and sub-basal wing setae were longer and the number of forewing duplicated cilia fewer. He further indicated that more material would be necessary to decide about the taxonomic status of this new species. Comparing the measurements of specimens that have been collected more recently on Amygdalus from Fars Province with those given in the description of H. maroccanus , it is no longer possible to distinguish H. iraniensis (see Table 3), and they are here considered the same species. Moreover, H. maroccanus is similar in colour and structure to the European H. subtilissimus , of which it is possibly merely the southern form. In England, however, H. subtilissimus is considered a predatory species, and is usually taken from the branches of Quercus trees ( Mound et al. 1976), whereas most specimens of H. maroccanus have been taken from flowers. Bagheri and Alavi (2007) recorded H. maroccanus from Iran based on specimens identified by zur Strassen.

Diagnosis

Blackish brown; antennal segments III–VI yellow; all tarsi pale yellow, fore tibiae yellow at apex, mid and hind tibiae dark with apex pale; major body setae on head and pronotum dark, sub-basal wing setae pale; tergite IX setae and anal setae pale distally. Head with postocular setae blunt to weakly capitate, usually extending a little beyond posterior margin of eyes, sometimes longer but usually shorter than eyes; antennal segment III with one sensorium (cf. Figure 28 ). Pronotum with five pairs of major setae blunt to capitate. Fore tarsal tooth apparently absent in female (cf. Figures 4, 5, 7 ); a conspicuous tooth present in three available males ( Figure 6 ). Forewing sub-basal setae S1, S2 blunt to broadly blunt, S3 blunt or weakly blunt; 8– 11 duplicated cilia present (cf. Figure 18 ). Tergite IX setae S1, S2 and S3 pointed, S1 on tergites I–V blunt or broadly blunt, on VI–VIII pointed. Tube short (cf. Figure 31 ), about twice as long as basal width.

Material examined

Iran: Fars Province: Dasht-Arzhan , 13 ♀, 3 „ from Amygdalus sp. , 23.iv.1999; Tehran Province: Rood-e-hen, 5 ♀, 3 „ from Pycnocycla sp. , 12.vii.2005 .

Haplothrips minutus (Uzel)

Zygothrips minutus Uzel, 1895, p. 243 .

This species was described from Central Europe and recorded from western Europe ( Mound et al. 1976), but remains known from few specimens. It was recorded from Iran by Kheyrandish Koshkoei (2000) and Kheyrandish Koshkoei et al. (2000) on the basis of two specimens taken in Kerman Province. However, these specimens were identified by zur Strassen with a query (?) (2006 personal communication from Richard zur Strassen). According to the literature, the species is unique within the genus in lacking a sensorium on the third antennal segment, although H. corticinus Priesner is similar and might be considered a synonym of H. minutus (2006 personal communication from Richard zur Strassen). In a series of 14 females and 5 males from Fars Province, antennal segment III is slender, and the single sensorium is much smaller than the sensoria on segment IV and is particularly easy to overlook ( Figure 29 ). These specimens are all relatively small, about 1.5–1.7 mm, but are clearly members of the H. minutus species-group of predatory thrips. Unfortunately, no well-prepared specimens of this group have been studied in which the sensorium on the third segment can be stated with confidence to be ‘‘absent’’, in contrast to being ‘‘not visible’’, and the identity of H. minutus thus remains problematic.

A further member of the H. minutus species-group, H. amygdali Priesner , is based on a single female from ‘‘Palestine’’ with apparently distinctive pale hind femora. The pronotal anteromarginal setae are minute, as in H. minutus , but the hind femora of the latter species are described as dark, and thus more similar to the Iranian specimens. In H. minutus the forewing sub-basal setae S3 are described as knobbed, and tergite IX setae S1 as blunt, whereas in H. amygdali these setae are all described as pointed, as in the Iranian specimens. Unlike the two named species, the Iranian specimens all have the postocular setae more or less pointed. Currently it is not possible to decide how many species might be represented by this material.

Diagnosis

Head, body, all femora and the first antennal segment dark blackish-brown; all tarsi clear yellow, middle and hind tibiae dark at base with apex yellow antennal segment II brown, paler distally, III–VI yellow, VII–VIII slightly grey; major setae on head, pronotum and sub-basal wing setae dark. Head about as long as broad; postocular setae finely pointed, extending beyond posterior margin of eyes. Pronotal anteromarginal setae as long as discal setae, four pairs of major setae usually blunt (anteroangular and midlateral setae usually finely pointed), midlateral usually and anteroangular sometimes small. Forewing sub-basal setae S1 blunt, S2 and S3 finely pointed; with 8–11 duplicated cilia (cf. Figure 18 ). Tergite IX setae S1 pointed; tube short (cf. Figure 31 ), length 86 mm, basal width 52 mm.

Material examined

Iran: Fars Province: Dasht-Arzhan , 7 ♀, 29.x.1998, 2 „, 23.iv.1999; 7 ♀, 3 „, 7.v.2001 from Quercus sp .

Figures

Figures 22–31. (22) Dolicholepta micrura female antenna; (23) Haplothrips distinguendus female antenna; (24) H. kermanensis female antenna; (25) H. maroccanus female antenna; (26) H. reuteri female antenna; (27) H. kermanensis female antennal segment III; (28) H. globiceps female antennal segment III; (29) H.?minutus female antennal segment III–IV; (30) H. leucanthemi female tergite IX and tube; (31) H. aculeatus female tergite IX and tube.

Figures 1–9. (1) Dolicholepta micrura female head and prosternum; (2–3) Haplothrips kermanensis head and pronotum – 2: female; 3: male; (4) H. globiceps female head and pronotum; (5) H. ganglbaueri female fore leg; (6) H. maroccanus male fore leg; (7) H. subtilissimus female head and pronotum; (8–9) H. tritici fore leg – 8: female from Noorabad on barley; 9: male from Karaj on wheat.

Figures 10–21. (10) Haplothrips globiceps female hind leg; (11) H. aculeatus female prosternum and mesopresternum; (12) H. subtilissimus female prosternum and mesopresternum; (13) H. tritici female prosternum and mesopresternum; (14) Neoheegeria dalmatica female prosternum and mesopresternum; (15) H. aculeatus female pelta; (16) H. tritici female pelta; (17) H. kermanensis female metanotum; (18–19) H. reuteri – 18: female forewing; 19: cilia at forewing apex; (20) Neoheegeria dalmatica female sub-basal wing setae; (21) H. globiceps female sub-basal wing setae.