Mesothrips Zimmermann

Dang, Li-Hong, Mound, Laurence A. & Qiao, Ge-Xia, 2014, Conspectus of the Phlaeothripinae genera from China and Southeast Asia (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3807 (1), pp. 1-82 : 57-58

Mesothrips Zimmermann

( Figs 54 , 56 )

Mesothrips Zimmermann, 1900: 12 . Type species: Mesothrips jordani Zimmermann , by subsequent designation.

Apart from one species described from Madagascar, the remaining 41 species listed in this genus are from Asia between India, southern Japan and northern Australia. Ananthakrishnan (1976) reviewed the genus and produced a key to 31 species, but that the key is not reliable judging from subsequent observations on variation in jordani . This widespread species is highly variable, not only in the body-size but also in the length of the major pronotal setae ( Mound & Minaei 2007), and it is likely that further synonyms remain to be recognised. Han (1997) described Mesothrips as having the fore wings broad basally and parallel-sided but tapering toward the apex, whereas this genus is a member of the Haplothripini with the fore wings clearly constricted medially. Most of the named species in this genus are from the Indonesian islands, with six recorded from China. These thrips are usually found within galls, but they are possibly kleptoparasites as there is no evidence that they are gall-inducers. Mesothrips ignotus Reyes is here transferred to Adelphothrips , because it lacks prosternal basantra, and has the antennal sensoria formula that is typical of the Liothrips- lineage.

Diagnosis: Head longer than wide, cheeks sharply constricted at base ( Fig. 56 ); eyes normal, postocular setae well-developed; stylets usually retracted to one third of head length, wide apart, V-shaped; antennae 8-segmented, III with 3 sensoria, IV with 4; pronotum usually with 5 pairs of developed setae, sometimes am and aa reduced, notopleural sutures complete; basantra present; mesopresternum eroded medially, usually divided into two lateral plates ( Fig. 54 ); sternopleural sutures absent; fore tarsal tooth present in both sexes; fore wings weakly constricted medially, with duplicated cilia; pelta triangular; tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae; tube shorter than head; male sternite VIII without pore plate.

Figures

FIGURES 49–54. Phlaeothripinae genera. Haplothrips 49–51: (49) subgenus Haplothrips, forewing; (50) Ventral view of thorax; (51) subgenus Trybomiella, forewing. Liothrips vaneeckei 52–53: (52) Ventral view of thorax; (53) Forewing. (54) Mesothrips jordani, ventral view of thorax.

FIGURES 55–60. Haplothripini. (55) Karnyothrips melaleucus, head, pronotum & foreleg; (56) Mesothrips jordani, head; (57) Sinuothrips hasta, head; (58) Podothrips ferrugineus, head, pronotum & foreleg; (59) Podothrips sasacola, ventral view of thorax; (60) Dyothrips pallescens, head & pronotum.