Neohydatothrips tadzhicus (Pelikan)

Minaei, Kambiz, 2016, The genus Neohydatothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Iran with one new species and first record of a micropterous form, Zootaxa 4189 (2), pp. 367-377 : 374-376

Neohydatothrips tadzhicus (Pelikan)

( Figs 27–33 )

Sericothrips tadzhicus Pelikan, 1964: 228 .

Pelikan (1964) described this species from a large number of both sexes obtained by sweeping on “Jungle grasses” at Tajikistan, Central Asia. Subsequently , Yang et al. (1993) recorded it from China . The species was recorded from Iran for the first time in Khorasan province, north eastern Iran ( Alavi & Kamali 1995, 2003) based on specimens collected on various plants including flowering Glycyrrhiza glabra . This is the plant on which Cheraghian (1996) and Minaei et al. (2002) found N. tadzhicus in high population in Khozestan and Fars provinces respectively. Judging from the author’s collection around the Fars province in recent years, the species lives on flowers and leaves of Glycyrrhiza glabra .

Female macroptera. Body yellow with light brown markings, antennal segments I and II pale, III and IV with light brown markings on distal third, V–VIII faintly shaded; ocellar region weakly shaded, pronotal blotch brown with margins distinct; anterior margin of mesonotum, and anterior two thirds of metanotum light brown; metasternum light brown ( Fig. 32 ); legs yellow with shaded brown areas medially; fore wing pale with faintly shaded area on basal third and sub-apical area, clavus shaded; tergites II–VI with dark antecostal line and brown shadings antero-laterally, tergite VII and ovipositor light brown

Occipital apodeme close to but not confluent with posterior margin of eyes; ocellar setae III close together behind fore ocellus; mouth cone very long, extending beyond fore coxae; pronotum transversely striate ( Fig. 29 ); mesonotum striate, metanotum in anterior part weakly reticulate; anterior margin of metasternal plate almost transverse ( Fig. 32 ). Fore wing second vein with no setae ( Fig. 33 ); tergites II–VII without comb medially on posterior margin; comb on tergite VIII complete; IX with 2 pairs of mid-dorsal setae ( Fig. 30 ). Sternites III–VII without discal microtrichia medially.

Measurements. (one female in microns): Body length 1042. Head length (width) 97 (158), ocellar setae III length 21. Pronotum length (width) 110 (167). Fore wing length 663.Antennal segments III–VIII length 56, 55, 44, 45, 9, 15.

Male macroptera. Similar to female but smaller ( Fig. 28 ), sternite VII with a small circular pore plate about 11 microns wide ( Fig. 31 ).

Measurements. (one male in microns): Body length 881. Head length (width) 90 (140), ocellar setae III length 22. Pronotum length (width) 90 (155). Fore wing length 570.Antennal segments III–VIII length 58, 54, 36, 43, 9, 14.

Material studied. IRAN, Fars province, Badjgah , 3 females, 1 male, on Glycyrrhiza glabra , 28.viii.1999 ;1 female, same place and plant, 20.x.2011 (KM 597); Shiraz, Ghasrodasht, 7 females, 1 male, same plant, 4.v.2016; Mamasani , 4 females, 2 males, same plant, 10.vi.2016 ; Dehsheikh , 2 females, same plant, 24.vi.2016 .

Comments. In most Sericothripinae , only one pair of pronotal posteroangular setae is developed. However, in tadzhicus the pronotum bears two posteroangular setae although the inner pair is shorter than the outer pair. This species is also remarkable for the distinctive dark pronotal blotch and very long mouth cone.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 33. Neohydatothrips tadzhicus. (27) Female; (28) Male; (29) Head and pronotum; (30) Tergites VII – X; (31) Tergites VII – X (male) (32) Metasternum; (33) Fore wing.