Dodonaeathrips, Mound & Masumoto, 2009

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 : 59-60

Dodonaeathrips gen. n.

Diagnosis. Macropterous; antennae 8-segmented ( Fig. 178 ), sensorium on segments III–IV forked, II–VI with microtrichial rows, I without dorso-apical setae. Head transverse, eyes large with 6 pigmented facets; 3 pairs of ocellar setae, pair III within ocellar triangle ( Fig. 172 ); 2 pairs of postocular setae; maxillary palps 2- segmented. Pronotum transverse, with no long setae. Mesonotum and metascutum without campaniform sensilla, median setae arise medially ( Fig. 173 ). Prosternal ferna entire; basantra without setae. Mesothoracic and metathoracic furcae each with prominent spinula ( Fig. 176 ); mesothoracic sternopleural sutures complete. Metapre-episternum weakly developed. Tarsi 1-segmented. Fore wing first vein setal row incomplete, 2 setae distally; clavus with 4 veinal setae and 1 basal submarginal (?discal) seta ( Fig. 173 ). Tergites and sternites without craspeda ( Figs 177, 179 ); tergites with little sculpture, median setae wider apart than their length; VI–VII with S3 and S4 equally stout and larger than S1 and S2; tergite VIII with no comb; tergite IX without campaniform sensilla, or with one pair posteromedially, MD setae short and arising laterally. Sternites III–VII with 3 pairs of marginal setae, S1 and S2 on VII arising sub-marginally, without discal setae. Males with thick-walled pore plate on sternite III ( Figs 174, 175 ); tergite IX without thorn-like setae.

Type species Dodonaeathrips eremiae sp. n.

Comments. This genus is erected for a single species with several unusual characteristics. No other member of the Anaphothrips group is known to have single segmented tarsi, a furca is present on the metathorax as well as the mesothorax, the maxillary palps are 2-segmented, and the condition of the campaniform sensilla on the ninth tergite in females (usually absent or with one pair present posteromedially) is unusual amongst Thripinae. The metathoracic furca is rather thick, with poorly defined margins, in contrast to the clearly delimited mesothoracic furca. Demonstration of the porous nature of the thick-walled pore plate on the third sternite of males requires particularly careful adjustment of a microscope’s illumination ( Figs 174, 175 ). Currently, it is not possible to suggest any generic relationships for this taxon.

Figures

FIGURES 172–179. Dodonaeathrips eremiae. (172) head; (173) meso & metanotum with clavus (DIC illumination); (174) male sternite III (DIC illumination); (175) male sternite III (phase contrast illumination); (176) thoracic furcae; (177) sternites V–VII; (178) antenna; (179) tergites VI–VIII.