Cartomothrips tofti, Mound, Laurence A. & Walker, Annette K., 2012

Mound, Laurence A. & Walker, Annette K., 2012, The Australia-New Zealand connection re-visited, with two new species of Cartomothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 3487, pp. 58-64 : 63-64

Cartomothrips tofti sp.n.

( Figs 1, 2, 5 , 8, 13, 15 )

Female microptera. Body and legs brown, tube darkest; antennae dark brown with extreme base of III yellow ( Fig. 2 ); major setae weakly shaded. Head longer than wide, cheeks weakly convex, slightly constricted behind eyes, with few weak setae; ocelli small; postocular setae finely pointed, longer than dorsal length of eyes; postoccipital ridge without internal apophyses; maxillary stylets close together medially, retracted to base of postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented, III with 3 slender sensoria, IV with 4; VIII constricted at base to small collar. Pronotum transverse, with weak sculpture lines ( Fig. 1 ); notopleural sutures complete; anteromarginal setae small, remaining major setae bluntly pointed. Mesonotum transversely reticulate; metanotum without sculpture, one pair of prominent setae medially ( Fig. 1 ). Fore tarsus with small tooth. Fore wing lobe very small. Prosternal basantra not developed; ferna transverse and almost meeting in mid-line ( Fig. 8 ); mesopraesternum reduced to two lateral triangles ( Fig. 8 ). Pelta irregularly D-shaped ( Fig. 1 ), sometimes with very small basal wings; tergal wing-retaining setae small and straight, major setae long and finely pointed, on IX shorter than tube ( Fig. 15 ).

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1900. Head, length 225; width across cheeks 185; maxillary stylets median separation 10. Pronotum, length 125; width 250; major setae—am 12, aa 40, ml 25, epim 70, pa 50. Metanotal median setae 30. Fore wing lobe 60. Tergite inner and outer lateral setae (S1, S2), on III 90, 25; on VII 100, 90; on IX 100, 100. Tube length 160; anal setae 120. Antennal segments III–VIII length 63, 63, 55, 55, 54, 30.

Male microptera. Closely similar to female in colour and structure, except: postoccipital ridge with pair of weak internal apophyses; fore tarsal tooth larger with lower margin swollen; tergite IX S2 setae shorter and stouter; sternite VIII with small transverse pore plate ( Fig. 13 ).

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1550. Head length 210. Tergite IX setae S1 85, S2 50. Tube length 150.

Specimens examined. Holotype female, New Zealand, South Island, NN, Denniston Plateau, from base of Gahnia procera , 16.iv.2012 (RJ Toft & AK Walker), in NZAC.

Paratypes, 5 females, 2 males taken with holotype, in NZAC and ANIC, Canberra.

Comments. This new species differs from the other members of the genus in having four, instead of three, sensoria on the fourth antennal segment, and the pore plate on the eighth sternite of males is much smaller ( Fig. 13 ). The curiously dark brown colour of the antennae is shared with the other members of Cartomothrips , but the systematic position of the species requires further study based on field observations and molecular data.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 5. Cartomothrips species. (1) tofti, pro, meso & metanota, pelta and tergite II. (2) tofti, head of holotype. (3) abrsi, meso & metanota, pelta and tergite II. (4) abrsi, head & pronotum. (5) tofti, female with fustis internally on segment IX. (6) neboissi, male with genital complex internally on segment IX.

FIGURES 7 – 15. Cartomothrips species. Thoracic sternites 7 – 10: (7) abrsi; (8) tofti; (9) browni; (10) neboissi. (11) browni, head showing postoccipital apophyses. (12) abrsi, male head with weak occipital apophyses. Male sternite VIII with pore plate 13 – 14: (13) tofti; (14) abrsi. (15) tofti, tergites VII – IX and tube of female [S 1 & S 2 — major setae (S 3 arises ventro-laterally); Int—intermediate setae].