Azaleothrips taiwanus, 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 : 342

Azaleothrips taiwanus sp.n.

( Figs 141–146 )

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown. Basal 1/3 of antennal segment III and basal neck of segment IV yellowish; basal neck of segment V a little paler. All femora brown to dark brown, concolorous with body, yellow at apices; all tibiae brown, with bases and apices yellow. Fore wing weakly shaded with brown, paler at basal 1/4.

Head ( Fig. 141 ) almost as long as wide, or a little longer; dorsal surface entirely reticulate, coarse or with weak wrinkles among reticles; cheeks slightly convex. Postocular setae shorter than half the length of compound eye. Antennal segments VIII distinct from segment VII ( Fig. 142 ); segments VII + VIII longer than segment III; segment IV almost as long as segment III, about 1.8 times as long as wide; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 143 ) distinctly sculptured with lines, minutely tuberculate along lines, with 24 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 144 ) with very small tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, somewhat coarse among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 144 ) longitudinally reticulate, inner marking weak, anterior half usually with 4 to 6 short setae (5 in holotype). Fore tarsus with a tooth ( Fig. 145 ). Fore wing with 8/8 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta distinctly 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 0.6 times as long as head. Anal setae a little longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 1852. Head length 200, width across cheeks 192. Pronotum length 125, width 218. Fore wing length about 690. Tube length 123, width across base 51. Antenna length about 350, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 53 (32), 53 (30), 48 (29), 46 (26), 36 (22), 20 (13). Postocular setae 24–26. S1 setae on tergite IX 60 –63, S2 setae on tergite IX 75 –78. Anal setae 140–142.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Abdominal segment VIII somewhat yellowish. Head about 1.1 times as long as wide, or a little shorter. Fore wings with 6/8 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, but narrow. S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length 1580. Head length 187, width across cheeks 175. Pronotum length 120, width 206. Fore wing length about 620. Tube length 110, width across base 50. Antenna length about 350, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 55 (30), 56 (29), 52 (25), 46 (25), 37 (21), 20 (12). Postocular setae 25–27. S1 setae on tergite IX 60 –62, S2 setae on tergite IX 32 –34. Anal setae 130–132.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Taiwan, Pintung Hsien, Kenting National Park, on dead branches, 18.iii.1984 (SO).

Paratypes: Taiwan, 8 females and 7 males, collected with holotype; 1 female and 1 male, data very similar to holotype, but 19.iii.1984; 2 females and 1 male, Taoyuan Hsien, Mt. Lala shan, on dead branches with richen, 19.viii.1993 (TN & SO); 1 female, Nantou Hsien, Nanshanchi, on dead leaves and branches, 29.viii.1993 (TN & SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group. It can be distinguished from the congeners by a combination of the following features: Fore femora brown to dark brown; head almost as long as wide, cheeks slightly convex; pronotum sculptured with lines of reticulation as well as numerous small tubercles; fore tarsus with a tooth; S2 setae on tergite IX expanded in female.

Figures

FIGURES 141 – 152. Azaleothrips species. taiwanus sp. n. female 141 – 146: (141) head; (142) antennal segments VII & VIII; (143) pronotum; (144) meso & metanotum; (145) right fore leg; (146) tergite II. templeri sp. n. female 147 – 152: (147) head; (148) antennal segments VII & VIII; (149) pronotum; (150) meso & metanotum; (151) right fore leg; (152) tergite II.