Anaphothrips ambiguus (Girault)

Mound, Laurence A. & Masumoto, Masami, 2009, Australian Thripinae of the Anaphothrips genus-group (Thysanoptera), with three new genera and thirty-three new species, Zootaxa 2042 (1), pp. 1-76 : 15

Anaphothrips ambiguus (Girault)

( Figs 9–12 )

Neophysopus ambiguus Girault, 1927b: 2 .

This widespread species is closely associated with the leaves of certain species of Cassinia (Asteraceae) . Many specimens of both sexes and larvae have been collected between Cann River (Victoria), Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) and Orange (New South Wales), particularly from Cassinia quinquefaria but also related species including C. longifolia and C. arcuata . The lectotype, designated by Pitkin (1978), is from Queensland, Stanthorpe, forest, 2.iv.1924 (QM). The body colour of females is sometimes more extensively brown than indicated below, probably dependent on the temperature during development. The species is unusual amongst the members of the genus that have 8-segmented antennae, in that the males lack pore plates.

Female macroptera. Body and legs mainly yellow with light brown markings laterally on head, medially on meso- and metascutum, and broad T-shaped area on tergites II–VII; antennal segment I white, II–VIII brown, II darkest, III pale at base; fore wings pale or weakly shaded; major body setae brownish. Head transverse, with sculpture lines behind eyes ( Fig. 9 ); eyes with 6 pigmented facets ( Fig.11 ); ocellar setae III just within triangle. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV with sensorium forked, II with weak microtrichia; VI with weak pedicel ( Fig. 12 ). Metascutum irregularly reticulate; median setae well behind anterior margin; MCS absent. Fore wing first vein setal row irregular, 6–9 setae in basal group, 2–3 medially and 2 distally; second vein with about 12 setae, including one seta sometimes basal to vein fork; clavus with 5 veinal setae and one seta near base. Abdominal tergites median setae scarcely further apart than their length ( Fig. 10 ); indistinct dentate microtrichia on sculpture lines laterally; IV–VII with no sculpture medially, but lines extend slightly mesad of setae S2; posteromarginal comb on VIII complete long and fine.

Male macroptera. Similar to female, with long comb on tergite VIII; two pairs of short stout setae on tergite IX; sternites without pore plates.

Larva II. Major setae with apices expanded, trumpet-shaped, particularly on abdomen; tergite IX with narrow transverse dark band between setal bases, without marginal teeth.

Figures

FIGURES 6–12. Anaphothrips genus-group. (6) Aptinothrips rufus, head. Caprithrips moundi, 7–8: (7) head & pronotum. (8) thoracic sternites. Anaphothrips ambiguus 9–12: (9) head & pronotum; (10) tergites VI–X; (11) head ventral surface with pigmented facets; (12) antenna.