Teuchothrips miriwoong, Mound & Dang & Tree, 2023

Mound, Laurence A., Dang, Lihong & Tree, Desley J., 2023, Structural diversity among the leaf-feeding thrips of Australia in the genus Teuchothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) with 20 new species, Zootaxa 5383 (4), pp. 441-475 : 468

Teuchothrips miriwoong sp.n.

( Figs 88–90 )

Female microptera. Body and legs brown, all tarsi yellow, extreme apices of tibiae yellow ( Fig. 88 ); antennal segments I–II and VII–VIII brown, III–IV largely yellow, V brownish yellow, VI light brown with base paler ( Fig. 89 ); major setae pale to very weakly shaded. Head longer than wide, vertex with weak transverse markings; postocular setae small, capitate but just extending to posterior margin of eyes; maxillary stylets retracted almost to eyes, less than one-fifth of head width apart medially ( Fig. 88 ). Antennal segment III less than twice as long as wide; segment IV with 2 stout sense cones; VIII distinct from VII with base slightly narrower than apex of VII ( Fig. 89 ). Pronotum with 2 pairs of capitate, major setae, am, aa and ml setae small and acute. Fore femora not enlarged, fore tarsal inner margin slightly swollen but without a tooth. Fore wing lobe about as long as metathorax width. Mesonotum transversely reticulate, lateral setal pair minute. Metanotum reticulate medially, with about 4 fine discal setae ( Fig. 90 ). Mesopresternum divided into 2 weak, irregular triangles, metathoracic sternopleural sutures present. Pelta irregular in shape, base weakly flared; tergites III–VI each with only one pair of large sigmoid setae ( II and VII each one one small pair); tergite IX setae S1 and S2 capitate, half as long as tube; tube margins straight.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1800. Head, length 175; maximum width 185. Pronotum, length 120; width 240; epimeral setae 45. Tergite VIII posterolateral setae 40; tergite IX setae S1 65, S2 65; tube, length 125, basal width 70; anal setae, length 120. Antennal segments I–VIII length (width): 40 (30), 45 (30), 55 (25), 50 (25), 55 (25), 50 (25), 50 (25), 25 (15).

Female macroptera. Very similar to microptera in colour and structure; fore wing without duplicated cilia.

Male microptera. Similar to female in colour; fore tarsal tooth length about 0.3 of tarsal width; fore wing lobe smaller; tergites without sigmoid setae; sternite VIII with no pore plate; tergite IX setae S2 at least 0.5 as long as S1 setae.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1380. Head, length 140; width 140. Pronotum, length 100; width 200. Tergite IX setae S1 55, S2 55; tube, length 110, basal width 65; anal setae, length 90.

Specimens studied. Holotype female microptera, Australia, Northern Territory, Kunnunurra 179km east, from Tephrosia sp. leaves, 19.ix.2009 ( LAM5220 ), in ANIC.

Paratypes: 2 female, 3 male micropterae, 1 female macroptera taken with holotype; same locality and date, 2 female, 2 male micropterae from distorted bud on Fabaceae plant.

Non-paratypes: South Australia, Maree 80km north, 2 female, 1 male microptera from? Cassia leaves, 8.iv.1998 .

Comments. This species is most unusual amongst Teuchothrips in having fore tarsi of females without a prominent tooth but only with the inner margin slightly swollen. It is also one of only two species known to have prominent discal setae on the metanotum. Moreover, antennal segment IV bears only two sense cones, and the fore wing apparently lacks duplicated cilia.

Figures

FIGURES 88–95. Teuchothrips of Australia. T. miriwoong 88–90: (88) head & pronotum; (89) antenna; (90) metanotum & pelta. T. monga 91–92: (91) metanotum & pelta; (92) pronotum. T. mooni 93–95: (93) head & pronotum; (94) metanotum & pelta; (95) tergites IX–X.