Ctenothrips transeolineae Chen

Ctenothrips transeolineae Chen, 1979: 184 .

Ctenothrips barapatharensis Tyagi, Ghosh & Kumar, 2014: 274 . Syn.n.

(Figs 5, 16, 18, 34, 49, 60)

Described from Taiwan, transeolineae remains known from only two males and one female. A rare condition for these specimens is having antennal segment III brown in the basal half and pale in the apical half, because most Thripidae have the distal parts of antennal segments darker than the basal parts. However, these specimens were poorly mounted with the mountant deteriorated, which might affect the antennal colour.

Ctenothrips barapatharensis was described from three females from Himachal Pradesh, India, and was distinguished from transeolinae by head with a dark thickening attached to the fore ocellus ( transeolinae without); pronotal posterior margin with 2 pairs of setae ( transeolinae with 1 pair); distance between median pair of metanotal setae subequal to the distance between median and submedian ( transeolinae with median setae close to submedian setae); abdominal tergites I–VII smooth at posterior margin (tergites I–VII reticulated at posterior margin)(Tyagi 2014). However, the dark thickenings attached to the fore ocellus is a convexity created by slide-mounting, and this can be seen in almost all specimens of Ctenothrips, including bridwelli (Fig. 13), distinctus (Fig. 3) and parisae (Fig. 4). Comparing the head illustrations of barapatharensis and transeolinae, there are no differences in the postocular setae. The types of transeolinae also have smooth areas posterior to the campaniform sensilla on abdominal tergites I–VII. The distance between the median pair of metanotal setae and distance between the median and submedian setae varies among specimens. According to the specimens checked below, the distance between the median pair of metanotal setae and distance between the median and submedian setae varies; the number of pronotal posteromarginal setae can be one to two pairs, and the color of antennal segments III–V varies from completely pale to pale with brown shading on distal half. Therefore, we conclude here that barapatharensis is a synonym of transeolinae .

Diagnosis of males: similar to females but smaller, with one pair of short stout setae on tergite IX (Fig. 49); sternites III–VIII each have a transverse pore plate, width about 40–70 microns.

Material examined: CHINA, Taiwan, Taipei, Chutyuhu, 1 paratype female and 1 paratype male from grass, 8.vii.1978 (L.S. Chen); Yunnan, Lüchun county, Mt. Huanglian, 2 females from Melastoma candidum, 13.iii.2017 (H. R. Zhang); Pingbian county, Mt. Dawei, 2 females from Aceraceae fabri, 17.v.2017 (H. R. Zhang); 2 females from ferns and 7 females from Physaliastrum japonicum, 13.v.2017 (H. R. Zhang); Tonghai County, Xiushan Park, 4 females 5 males from Tradescantia fluminensis, 21.v.2017 (B. Kong) . INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Rangarh, alt. 2000m, 1 female, 9.x.1979 (I. Löbl); West Bengal, Darjeeling District, Tigerhill, alt. 2600m, 1 female 2 males, 18.x.1978 (I. Löbl) . NEPAL (all collected by I. Löbl), Manang District, Marsyandi, alt. 2200m, 2 females, 12.iv.1980; Kathmandu, Phulchoki, 1 female, 28.iv.1984; 1 female, 14.x.1983; Province Bagmati, Tare Pati, alt. 3300m, 3 females, 1 male, 11.iv.1981; Phulchauki, 1 female, 10.v.1981; Mare Dara, 1 female, 7.iv.1981; Parbat District, Goropani, alt. 2700m, 1 female, 6.x.1983 .