Baenothrips bulbosus, Mound & Wells, 2023

Mound, Laurence A. & Wells, Alice, 2023, Endemism among Lord Howe IslandThysanoptera, with new species of Baenothrips (Phlaeothripidae) and Scirtothrips (Thripidae), Zootaxa 5228 (1), pp. 81-91 : 83

Baenothrips bulbosus sp.n.

( Figs 4, 9, 12 )

Female aptera: With red pigment internally on head anterior and lateral margins, also scattered pigment in prothorax, and small red areas laterally in abdominal segments III–VIII. Body, legs and antennae largely yellow; head deeply shaded at anterior and anterolateral margins, pronotum weakly shaded; tube with anal ring dark. Head anterior margin with 3 prominent tubercles, median one with pair of long capitate setae, lateral ones each with 2 similar setae ( Fig. 4 ); dorsal surface weakly tuberculate; compound eyes dorsally with 4–5 small facets mesad of 3 large facets, ventrally with a single isolated small facet. Maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, about one-third of head width apart, with slender maxillary bridge. Antennae 8-segmented, III–V broadly joined but distinct from each other ( Fig. 9 ); III asymmetric, with sub-basal ridge; III with one sense cone, IV with 2 sense cones. Pronotum transverse, with weak irregular sculpture and about 20 small setae; notopleural sutures not developed, epimeral setae pale and broadly expanded. Metanotum with no sculpture, with 30–40 minute setae. Metathoracic epimera slightly swollen, weakly tuberculate. Prosternum with about 10 small setae in irregular transverse row, sternites weakly sclerotised and poorly defined, except slender spinasternum prominent. Mesothoracic furca reduced to pair of small lateral invaginations. Pelta fully transverse between the large spiracles, without sculpture; tergites II–VIII usually without sculpture except close to antecostal ridge, III–VIII each with pair of pale, flattened posteroangular setae; spiracle on VIII very small; IX longer than wide without prominent setae ( Fig. 12 ); tube long and slender but slightly wider at base and apex, median dorsal anal setae much more slender than the longer lateral pairs.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 2000. Head, length 190; maximum width 165; median setal pair 80; lateral setal pairs 60. Pronotum, length 100; width 180; posteroangular setae 25. Tergite IX, length 185; maximum width 225. Tube, length 370; anal setae mid-dorsal pair 135; lateral pairs 800. Antennal segments III–VIII length 30, 25, 25, 23, 20, 20.

Male not known.

Specimens studied. Holotype female aptera, Lord Howe Island , Smokers Trail, from base of grasses, 27.xii.2007 (LAM 5144), in ANIC.

Paratypes, all Lord Howe Island : 2 females taken with holotype; Soldiers Creek , 2 females from dead twigs, 21.xi.1996 ; Rocky Run , 4 females from base of grasses, 22.xii.2001 ; Goat House , 1 female from dead branch, 25.xii.2001 ; Transit Hill , 2 females from grasses, 26.xii.2007 ; Erskine Valley , 1 female from leaf litter, 2.xii.2000 , 1 female from grass tussock, 21.xii.2007; Smokers Ridge , 1 female from grasses, 24.xii.2011 .

Comments. The body colour of this species is unique in the genus, but the arrangement of the compound eyes, with a row of small facets mesad of the large facets, occurs also in the following two new species as well as in B. moundi ( Fig. 7 ). However, B. caenosus has only the single row of large facets ( Fig. 3 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–13. Baenothrips species. Metanotum and tergites I–II 1–2: (1) moundi; (2) goweri. Head 3–7: (3) caenosus; (4) bulbosus; (5) goweri; (6) leukos; (7) moundi. Antenna 8–11: (8) caenosus; (9) bulbosus; (10) goweri; (11) moundi. Tergites IX–X: (12) bulbosus; (13) moundi.