Compsothrips reticulates Guo & Feng, 2006

Dang, Lihong, Guo, Fuzhen, An, Yiyan & Mound, Laurence A., 2023, Ant-mimicking thrips of the genus Compsothrips Reuter from China (Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 5353 (2), pp. 187-195 : 189-191

Compsothrips reticulates Guo & Feng

( Figs 1–17 , 21–24 )

Compsothrips reticulates Guo & Feng, 2006: 843 .

This species was described only from two males taken in Hebei, China ( Fig. 24 ). In naming the species reticulates the description referred to sculptured reticulation on the abdominal tergites. However, re-examination of the types, also specimens from Shanxi and Inner Mongolia listed below, indicate that weak reticulation is present only on the posterior part of the pelta and anterior part of tergite II, with the other tergites and tube smooth. The following redescription includes females for the first time.

Female aptera. Body largely dark brown; antennal segments I–IV uniformly yellow, V–VIII dark brown, V slightly pale at extreme base ( Figs 15, 16 ); all femora and tibiae yellowish brown with dark on outer margins, all tarsi yellow ( Fig. 10 ); metanotum brown with posterior 1/3 yellow ( Fig. 13 ); pelta white, tergite II with white spots anterolaterally, V with white spots posterolaterally ( Figs 10, 11 ), tube yellow on basal 3/4, the rest of abdomen dark brown ( Fig. 14 ); major setae colourless.

Head about 2.0 times as long as wide ( Figs 1 , 10 ); dorsal surface smooth with reticulation posteriorly ( Fig. 1 ); preocular projection inconspicuous; cheeks constricted at base ( Fig. 1 ); ocelli absent, interocellar setae about as long as postocellar setae, slightly blunt at apex ( Fig. 1 ); eye small, about 0.2 times as long as head on dorsal surface, about 0.3 times on ventral surface; postocular setae distant from eyes, minute, as long as other discal and cheek setae ( Fig. 1 ). Antennal segment III the longest, III–IV with one and two sense cones respectively ( Fig. 6 ), V–VI with outer apex protruding and bearing a seta ( Figs 6 , 15, 16 ). Mouth-cone rounded; maxillary stylets retracted to just behind postocular setae.

Pronotum sculptured with irregular striae around margins, notopleural sutures complete ( Fig. 1 ); pronotal major setae small, am similar to aa and blunt, ml reduced and acute, epim the longest and expanded at apex, pa expanded but smaller ( Fig. 1 ); mesonotum sculptured with transverse reticulation; metanotum sculptured with reticulation medially mainly concentric ( Fig. 13 ), median pair of setae developed, slightly blunt at apex; mesopresternum broad ( Fig. 3 ); metathoracic sternopleural sutures long ( Fig. 5 ). Legs slender, fore tarsal tooth triangular (Figs 2,10).

Pelta triangular and smooth, reticulate posteriorly, with pair of campaniform sensilla ( Figs 4 , 13 ); abdominal tergites II–VII smooth with few transverse reticulations or lines anteriorly ( Figs 4 , 11 ), without wing-retaining setae, with pair of small median setae, acute; posteroangular setae on tergites VI–VIII expanded at apex; tergite IX setae S1–S3 short and blunt or expanded, about 0.7 times as long as tube ( Figs 7 , 14 ); tube almost smooth, without setae on surface ( Figs 7 , 14 ), much shorter than head, anal setae much shorter than tube ( Figs 7 , 14 ); sternites II–VIII with some small setae on anterior half.

Measurements (female from Shanxi in μm). Body length 3100. Head length 490, width across eyes 230, the widest across basal third 280, the least width across sub-basal constricted part 210; projection before eyes length (width) 30 (65); interocellar setae length 40, postocellar setae length 35; eye dorsal length 80, ventral length 130; postocular setae length 20, median dorsal setae 20. Antenna length 655, segments I–VIII length (widest) 60(40), 75(45), 135(35), 95(40), 90(40), 85(35), 60(30) and 55(20), sensoria on segment III length 15. Pronotum length 200, width 255, length of pronotal setae, am 15, aa 15, ml 10, epim 25, pa 35. Metanotal median setae length 25. Pelta length 110, basal width 250; tergite IX posteromarginal setae S1– S3, 115, 130, 120; tube length 160, basal width 95, apical width 50; anal setae length 70.

Male aptera. Similar to female; but larger ( Fig. 9 ), fore femora expanded, tarsal tooth large ( Figs 1 , 12 , 22 ); tergite VIII broad on anterior but posterior half suddenly constricted ( Fig. 9 ); sternites without pore plate.

Measurements (male from Shanxi in μm). Body length 2890. Head length 470, width across eyes 255, the widest across basal third 250, the least width across sub-basal constricted part 185; projection before eyes length (width) 15 (125); interocellar setae length 25, postocellar setae length 40; eye dorsal length 90, ventral length 130; postocular setae length 10, median dorsal setae 10. Antenna length 560, segments I–VIII length (widest) 45(40), 65(40), 125(35), 80(40), 80(40), 70(35), 50(30) and 50(20), sensoria on segment III length 15. Pronotum length 255, width 290, length of pronotal setae, am 20, aa 20, ml 10, epim 15, pa 30. Metanotal median setae length 15. Pelta length 80, basal width 270; tergite IX posteromarginal setae S1– S3, 100, 95, 105; tube length 200, basal width 102, apical width 50; anal setae length 65.

Specimens studied. Holotype male and paratype male, China, Hebei, Xiaowutai Natural Reserve, 21.viii.2005 (Fuzhen Guo) ( NWAFU); China, Shanxi, Lishan National Nature Reserve, 2 females and 2 males on base of dry grasses, 28.vii.2021 (Yanqiao Li) ( SNUT), 2 males on grasses, 17.vii.2006 (Fuzhen Guo) ( NWAFU); Inner Mongolia, Helan Mountains , 5 females and 2 males, 29.vii–9.viii.2010 (Qingling Hu) ( NWAFU).

Comments. This species can be distinguished from the other two species known from China by antennal segments I–IV yellow against dark brown of V–VIII ( Figs 9, 15 , 21 ) and the tube largely yellow with distal quarter brown ( Figs 14 , 23 ). In sinensis and timur the tube is dark brown and concolorous with the other tergites ( Fig. 18 ). The antennae are uniformly brown in sinensis ( Figs 18, 19 ) and in timur at least segment III is largely yellow. Species of Compsothrips usually have a pair of stout and expanded postocular cheek setae and expanded postocular setae ( Fig. 27 ), but these setae in reticulates are reduced and acute, and similar to discal setae on the head ( Fig. 1 ). In North America, C. yosemitae has similar colour of the antennae and tube. However, the head shape and metanotal sculpture is different, based on six females and three males from Washington state, USA studied in ANIC.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Compsothrips reticulates. (1) head, pronotum and foreleg, male; (2) foreleg, female; (3) mesopresternum; (4) pelta; (5) metathoracic sternopleural sutures (pointed by black arrow); (6) antennae; (7) tergites IX–X, female; (8) tergites IX–X, male.

FIGURES 9–17. Compsothrips reticulates. (9) male; (10) female; (11) lateral dorsal view of abdominal segments II–V, showing white spots on II and V (pointed by black arrows); (12) head, pronotum and forelegs, male; (13) metanotum and pelta; (14) tergites IX–X, female; (15) antennae; (16) antennal segments V–VIII, showing protruding on V–VI; (17) specimens before maceration.

FIGURES 18–24. Type specimens. ‘C. tenebronus’ 18–20: (18) holotype female; (19) head, antennae and forelegs, allotype male; (20) holotype and allotype slides. C. reticulates 21–24: (21) antennae, holotype; (22) head and foreleg, holotype; (23) tergites IX–X, paratype male; (24) holotype and paratype slides.

FIGURES 25–30. C. timur. (25) antennae, Tashkent specimen; (26) antennae, Tibet specimen; (27) head and foreleg, female from Tibet; (28) head, pronotum and foreleg, male from Tibet; (29) mesonotum, metanotum, pelta and tergite II, Tashkent specimen; (30) mesonotum, metanotum, pelta and tergite II, Tibet specimen.