Leichhardtithrips evanidus Tree & Mound, 2013

Goldarazena, Arturo & Michel, Bruno, 2022, New records of Phlaeothripinae from New Caledonia, with the description of a new species of Adraneothrips Hood (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 169-176 : 174

Leichhardtithrips evanidus Tree & Mound, 2013

( Fig. 17 )

Specimens examined. New Caledonia, Mont Nondoué (22°08’51”S 166°22’58”E), 5 females, 4 males collected by fogging in sclerophyll forest at alt. 110 m, 03.vii.1992, Chazeau et al. (JBOU3781 to JBOU3789) .

Male aptera. Body similar to female ( Fig. 17 ). Body, antennae and legs uniformly brown except apex of antennal segment II, posterior part of pronotum and metanotum and pelta whiteish. Abdominal segments VIII–X slightly darker than anterior ones.

Head with sculpture behind eyes formed with irregular lines and polygons. Vertex smooth. Maxillary palp two segmented. Eyes not prolonged ventrally. Maxillary stylets retracted to eyes and close together medially. Labial palp two segmented. Antennal segment II globular with pedicel and a pair of short and broadly capitate setae on each side of sensorium, III–V fused, VI longer than wide, VII as long as wide, VIII slender. Pronotum, mesonotum, metanotum and abdominal tergite 2 covered with irregular reticles. Anterior margin of abdominal segments III–V bordered with irregular transverse reticles and lines. Pelta transverse and weakly sclerotized. Fore tarsus with no tooth, but inner and outer ventral hamus well developed. All major setae of body, antennal segment II and femora short and broadly capitate. Abdominal tergite IX with S1 and S2 capitate, S3 slender and acute. Abdominal sternites without pore plates.

Measurements of male. BL 1030 (the greater length of the holotype, 1520 µm, is due to a greater extension of the body). Head, length 149, median width 109. Antennal segments length I 28, II 40, III–V 97, VI 36, VII 11, VIII 20. Tergite IX setae S1 32, S2 34, S3 73.

Comments. Leichhardtithrips evanidus is easily recognised by the shape of the antennae. It has previously been known only from the holotype female, that was collected at Brisbane in northeastern Australia by bark spraying a Eucalyptus tree trunk ( Tree & Mound 2013). The authors also stated that despite repeated visits to the original site no further specimens were found. The sample of several males and females in New Caledonia was presumably a single population, from which it is not possible to assess either the rarity of the species or its natural distribution. However, it joins an increasingly long list of Thysanoptera species that are shared between New Caledonia and eastern Australia.

Figures

FIGURES 17–18. Habitus images (17) Leichhardtithrips evanidus, male; (18) Sophiothrips typicus, female.