Azaleothrips sulawesicus, 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 : 341

Azaleothrips sulawesicus sp.n.

( Figs 136–140 )

Female macroptera. Body brown. Antennal segment III pale brown, basal 2/5 yellowish; segment IV basal 1/5 or 1/4 yellowish; the remaining segments brown. Fore femora brown, with extreme apices yellowish, mid and hind femora brown, with bases and apices yellow; all tibiae brown, with bases and apices yellow. Fore wing very weakly shaded with brown in distal 3/4.

Head ( Fig. 136 ) longer than wide, about 1.2 times as long as wide; dorsal surface entirely reticulate, coarse or with wrinkles among reticles; cheeks rather straight, subparallel, but slightly narrowed near base. Compound eye about 0.3 times as long as head. Postocular setae almost half the length of compound eye or a little shorter. Antennal segments VIII distinct from segment VII; 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. 137 ) distinctly sculptured with numerous small tubercles and lines, minutely tuberculate along lines, with 22 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 138 ) with dentate microtrichia along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 138 ) longitudinally reticulate or striate, coarse among reticles or striae, anterior half usually with 4 short setae (5 in holotype). Fore tarsus with a minute tooth. Fore wing with 7/7 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta weakly reticulate. S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX much longer than half the length of tube; S2 expanded at apex. Tube about 0.6 times as long as head. Anal setae longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 1850. Head length 204, width across cheeks 175. Pronotum length 130, width 220. Fore wing length about 650. Tube length 118, width across base 54. Antenna length 342, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 50 (28), 50 (27), 49 (26), 48 (25), 35 (21), 22 (12). Postocular setae about 30. S1 setae on tergite IX 75 –78, S2 setae on tergite IX 82 –83. Anal setae about 135–138.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Abdominal segment VIII yellowish. Head 1.0–1.2 times as long as wide. Postocular setae a little longer than half the length of compound eye. Pronotal sculpture weaker than female especially in large male; large male with pronotal median longitudinal groove. Fore wings with 6/8 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct ( Fig. 140 ). S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex.

Measurements (paratype small–large males in microns). Distended body length 1325–1530. Head length 150–175, width across cheeks 146–150. Pronotum length 95–122, width 177–195. Fore wing length 540–570. Tube length 90–95, width across base 47–53. Antenna length about 310–330, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 45–50 (25–26), 46–51 (25–27), 46–49 (23–25), 42–46 (22), 32 (20), 21–24 (11–12). Postocular setae 30–30. S1 setae on tergite IX 60 –60, S2 setae on tergite IX 42 –44. Anal setae 105–115.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Indonesia, South Sulawesi, Karaenta Forest Res., Maros to Camba, alt. about 400m, on dead branches, 6.viii.1984 (SO).

Paratypes: Indonesia, 10 females and 4 males, collected with holotype; 14 females and 4 males, data very similar to holotype, but 5.viii.1984.

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group. It is somewhat similar to richardi , described above from West Malaysia, in appearance. From richardi , however, it differs in the reticulate pronotum, armed fore tarsi in female and expanded lateral pair of setae (S1) on the abdominal tergite IX in the female.

Figures

FIGURES 130 – 140. Azaleothrips species. simulans sp. n. female 130 – 135: (130) head, macroptera; (131) pronotum, macroptera; (132) mesonotum, metanotum & pelta, macroptera; (133) tergite II, macroptera; (134) mesonotum, metanotum & pelta, microptera; (135) tergite II, microptera. sulawesicus sp. n. 136 – 140: (136) head, female; (137) pronotum, female; (138) meso & metanotum, female; (139) tergite II, female; (140) sternite VIII, male.