Azaleothrips malaya, 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 : 328-330

Azaleothrips malaya sp.n.

( Figs 77–86 )

Female macroptera. Body dark brown. Antennal segment III yellowish, apical 2/3 shaded with pale brown (often very weakly shaded); basal neck of segment IV yellowish. All femora dark brown, fore femora slightly paler at apex, apical 1/6–1/5 of mid and hind femora yellowish; fore tibiae yellow, shaded with pale brown medially, mid and hind tibiae brown with bases and apices yellow. Fore wing shaded with pale brown in apical 3/4, but somewhat paler at middle and apex.

Head ( Fig. 77 ) a little longer than wide; dorsal surface entirely reticulate, with delicate wrinkles among reticles. Postocular setae longer than half the length of compound eye. Antennal segments VII and VIII not closely joined; segments VII + VIII usually a little longer than segment III; segment IV almost as long as segment III, about 1.9 times as long as wide; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 78 ) entirely sculptured with stout lines of reticulation, not tuberculate, with 20–24 short setae (22 setae in holotype).

Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 79 ) with very small dentate microtrichia along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 79 ) longitudinally reticulate or striate in anterior 2/5, irregularly reticulate in posterior 3/5, with weak internal markings of indistinct irregular small dots, anterior half usually with 4 (= two pairs) short setae (often aberrantly with 3 or 5 setae). Fore tarsus with a tooth. Fore wings with 8/9 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta distinctly reticulate. Posterior pair of sigmoid wing-retaining setae enlarged, more than 5 microns in diameter. S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX longer than half the length of tube, a little shorter than S2; S2 setae on tergite IX weakly expanded at apex. Tube about two-thirds the length of head. Anal setae shorter than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 1980. Head length 205, width across cheeks 194. Pronotum length 125, width 233. Fore wing length 760. Tube length 133, width across base 54. Antenna length 393, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 57 (32), 58 (30), 55 (22), 50 (26), 38 (23), 25 (15). Postocular setae 62–66. S1 setae on tergite IX 74 –77, S2 setae on tergite IX about 80. Anal setae 125.

Male macroptera. Color very similar to female, but sometimes paler than female; abdominal segment VIII a little paler. Structure similar to female, but showing size-related variation ( Figs 81–86 ), large male with enlarged prothorax and fore legs with stout fore tarsal tooth, pronotal sculpture weaker in large male. Metanotal short setae often decrease in number, some paratype males each with only one pair of these setae. Abdominal sternites VII and VIII smooth; pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII weak, situated medially. S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex.

Measurements (small–large paratype males in microns). Distended body length 1500–1880. Head length 172–200, width across cheeks 156–175. Pronotum length 97–140, width 180–225. Fore wing length 630–800. Tube length 105–127, width across base 47–56. Antenna length about 350–400, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 55–65 (28–32), 55–65 (28–32), 52–60 (25–27), 47–54 (24–25), 35–38 (20–23), 25–27 (12–14). Postocular setae 35–about 40. S1 setae on tergite IX 60 –75, S2 setae on tergite IX 40 –50. Anal setae about 110–115.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: West Malaysia, Cameron Highland, nr. Brinchang, on dead leaves and branches, 25.viii.1990 (TN & SO).

Paratypes: West Malaysia, Cameron Highland, 78 females and 47 males, collected with holotype; 17 females and 26 males, data similar to holotype, 27.viii.1990 (TN & SO); 1 female, foot of Gnung Brinchang, on dead leaves and branches, 26.viii.1990 (TN & SO); foot of Gnung Jasar, on dead leaves and branches, 5 females and 6 males, 29.viii.1990, 26 females and 16 males, 19.ix.1990 (TN & SO); 3 females and 1 male, nr. Tanah Rata, Robinson water fall, on dead leaves and branches, 28.viii.1990 (TN & SO); 1 female, nr. Tanah Rata, on dead leaves and branches, 30.viii.1990 (TN & SO); 2 females and 2 males, Tanah Rata, on dead leaves and branches, 18.ix.1990 (TN & SO).

Non-paratypic specimens: Thailand, nr. Chiang Mai, Doi Pui, on dead leaves and branches, 6 females and 5 males, 1.ix.1991 (TN & SO), 14 females and 2 males, 1.ix.1992 (TN).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group. It is somewhat similar to atayal , described above from Taiwan, but can be distinguished from that species by the darker antennal segment IV, shorter anal setae, stouter posterior pair of wing-retaining setae on intermediate abdominal tergites, smooth male abdominal sternites VII and VIII and medially situated male sternal pore plate.

Figures

FIGURES 77 – 86. Azaleothrips malaya sp. n. (77) head, female; (78) pronotum, female; (79) meso & metanotum, female; (80) tergite II, female; (81) head, large male; (82) pronotum, large male; (83) right fore leg, large male; (84) head, small male; (85) pronotum, small male; (86) right fore leg, small male.