Carientothrips semirufus (Girault, 1928: 4)

Eow, Li-Xin, 2014, Australian species of spore-feeding Thysanoptera in the genera Carientothrips and Nesothrips (Thysanoptera: Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 3821 (2), pp. 193-221 : 209

Carientothrips semirufus (Girault, 1928: 4)

( Figs 12 , 41 , 44 )

This species has remained inadequately distinguished from loisthus , a species that is equally widespread in eastern Australia. However, as indicated in the key above, the abdominal tergal chaetotaxy is very different. Moreover, loisthus is usually found at the base of grasses, whereas semirufus is associated with dead leaves and leaf-litter, as is the related new species snowi . Specimens of semirufus have been seen from Tasmania, eastern New South Wales including the ACT, and Queensland near Brisbane as well as from Cairns and Cape Tribulation in northern Queensland.

Diagnosis. Apterous, usually clearly bicoloured with yellowish head ( Fig. 12 ) and thorax distinct from brown abdomen; legs yellow; head longer than wide, distinctly projecting in front of eyes, postocellar and postocular setae blunt to weakly capitate. Pronotal am setae slender and acute, the other 4 pairs stouter, longer and weakly capitate, notopleural sutures complete ( Fig. 12 ). Metanotum with weak transverse reticulation. Pelta with broad median lobe broadly joined to lateral areas ( Fig. 41 ); tergites usually with about 20 small discal setae in transverse row, wingretaining setae minute ( Fig. 44 ); tergite IX setae blunt and shorter than tube. Male with fore tarsal tooth.

Figures

FIGURES 10–15. Carientothrips species. Head: (10) horni, (11) calami, (12) semirufus, (13) snowi, (14) palumai, (15) vesper.

FIGURES 37–43. Carientothrips species. Metathorax and pelta: (37) horni, (38) acti, (39) vesper, (40) loisthus, (41) semirufus. Pelta: (42) palumai, (43) miskoi.

FIGURES 44–46. Carientothrips species. Tergites: (44) semirufus female segments II–III, (45) loisthus segments III–V, (46) snowi pelta and segment II–IV.