Sophiothrips postlei, Mound & Tree, 2014

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2014, The minute, fungus-feeding species of Sophiothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) from Australia and New Zealand, Zootaxa 3860 (2), pp. 184-194 : 191

Sophiothrips postlei sp. n.

( Figs 7 , 13 , 27 )

Female aptera: Mainly yellow with light brown markings; legs yellow, but fore coxae brown; head, thorax yellow and abdominal segments I–V and IX yellow, thorax shaded laterally; tergites VI–VIII light brown, tube golden with apical grey band; antennal segments I–IV yellow, V–VI weakly shaded, VII–VIII light brown.

Head wider than long, dorsal surface extensively reticulate and sculptured ( Fig. 7 ), with no long setae; eyes much smaller ventrally than dorsally. Antennal segment II paired dorsal setae flattened ( Fig. 13 ), III with slender basal pedicel about as long as distal swollen portion, with one small sensorium; IV–VI each with 2 long sensoria. Pronotum faintly reticulate, major setae minute except epimerals. Meso and metanotum reticulate, metanotum without pair of prominent setae. Fore tarsal tooth absent. Prosternal basantra, mesopresternum and metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent; mesoeusternum anterior margin entire. Pelta extending fully across anterior margin of segment II; tergites weakly reticulate, lateral setae minute; tergite IX major setae shorter than width of base of tube, S3 bluntly pointed; tube surface weakly reticulate ( Fig. 27 ).

Measurements (holotype female aptera in microns). Body length 1040. Head, length 85; width 125; lateral postocular setae 12. Pronotum, length 110; width 185; epim setae 12. Tergite VI posteroangular setae 12; tergite IX setae S1 25, S2 20, S3 15. Tube length 150. Sternite II marginal setae S1 20; sternite VIII marginal setae S1 10. Antennal segments III–VIII length 45, 35, 40, 48, 35, 20.

Male aptera: Very similar to female in colour and structure, without any obvious secondary sexual characters.

Specimens studied: Holotype female, Western Australia, Dwellingup , from leaf litter, 28.vii.1981 (A. Postle).

Paratypes: 5 females, 1 male, taken with holotype; Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Black Mt ., 1 female in leaf litter, 4.xii.1969. New South Wales, Monga Forest , 2 females, 1 male from grass and leaves, 27.viii.1995.

Comments. This species is closely related to greensladei with a similar rather slender base to antennal segment III. However, the setae on the second antennal segment are flattened, the head and thorax more extensively reticulate, and the setae on the pronotum, laterally on the tergites, and on tergite IX are all considerably shorter.

Figures

FIGURES 1–7. Sophiothrips from Australia. Heads and pronota: (1) canberrae sp.n.; (2) darwini sp.n.; (3) greensladei; (4) martinae sp.n.; (5) mongae sp.n.; (6) placodes sp.n.; (7) postlei sp.n.

FIGURES 8–13. Sophiothrips from Australia, antennae. (8) canberrae sp.n.; (9) darwini sp.n. (10) greensladei; (11) martinae sp.n.; (12) placodes sp.n.; (13) postlei sp.n.

FIGURES 23–29. Sophiothrips from Australia, tergite IX and tube. (23) darwini sp.n.; (24) greensladei; (25) mongae sp.n.; (26) placodes sp.n.; (27) postlei sp.n.; (28) martinae sp.n. female; (29) martinae sp.n. male.