Azaleothrips flavicollis, Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014

Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014, Species-richness in the Oriental fungus-feeding thrips of the genus Azaleothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3846 (3), pp. 301-347 : 318

Azaleothrips flavicollis sp.n.

( Figs 40–44 )

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown, but prothorax yellow; intermediate abdominal segment somewhat paler, with lateral margins yellowish, segments VIII brownish yellow. Antennal segment III yellow, basal 1/4 to 1/ 3 of segment IV yellowish. Fore coxae and femora yellow; mid and hind coxae brown; mid and hind femora brown with apices yellowish; all tibiae yellow. Fore wing weakly shaded with brown, with a brown small marking at just outer side of median constriction, paler at basal 1/4 and median constriction.

Head ( Fig. 40 ) almost as long as wide; dorsal surface generally reticulate, but reticles weak at middorsum, almost smooth among reticles. Postocular setae almost as long as half the length of compound eye. Antennal segment VIII distinct from segment VII; segments VII + VIII almost as long as segment III, or a little shorter; segment IV almost as long as segment III; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 41 ) weakly sculptured with lines of reticulation, not tuberculate, with more than 24 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 42 ) with small tubercles or dentate microtrichia along transverse lines of sculpture, weakly coarse among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 42 ) longitudinally reticulate or striate, with small markings or dots among reticles or striae; anterior half with 4 to 7 short setae (5 setae in holotype). Fore tarsus with a tooth ( Fig. 43 ). Fore wing with 8/8 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta weakly reticulate. S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX almost as long as half the length of tube; S2 setae on tergite IX expanded at apex. Tube about two-thirds the length of head. Anal setae longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 2125. Head length 201, width across cheeks 207. Pronotum length 139, width 250. Fore wing length 765. Tube length 135, width across base 57. Antenna length about 400, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 62 (35), 63 (33), 58 (27), 50 (25), 37 (22), 24 (12). Postocular setae about 40. S1 setae on tergite IX 66 –68, S2 setae on tergite IX 77 –82. Anal setae 182.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Intermediate abdominal segment paler. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct. S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length about 1600. Head length 182, width across cheeks 166. Pronotum length 120, width 200. Fore wing length about 620. Tube length 107, width across base 51. Antenna length about 370, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 58 (32), 57 (30), 52 (25), 46 (25), 35 (20), 21 (12). Postocular setae about 40. S1 setae on tergite IX 63, S2 setae on tergite IX 32 –36. Anal setae 180.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Thailand, Bangkok, Bangkhen, Campus of Kasetsart University, NBCRC, on dead branches of Bougainvillea (?) glabra, 28.xii.1987 (SO).

Paratypes: Thailand, 6 females and 3 males, collected with holotype; same locality as holotype, 1 male, on dead branches, 26.xii.1987, 1 female, on dead branches of Casuarina equisetifolia , 18.i.1988 (SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group, and it is distinctive within the genus in having the clearly yellow prothorax including fore legs. Another new species described below from Phuket Island, pulcher , is somewhat similar to this species, but that species has the smaller body, yellowish metathorax and the bicolorous intermediate abdominal segments.

Figures

FIGURES 37 – 44. Azaleothrips species. dorsalis sp. n. female 37 – 39: (37) head; (38) pronotum; (39) metanotum. flavicollis sp. n. female 40 – 44: (40) head; (41) pronotum; (42) meso & metanotum; (43) right fore leg; (44) tergite II.