Ophthalmothrips conocephalus (Karny)

Minoura, Kazushige & Mound, Laurence A., 2019, The world species of Ophthalmothrips Hood (Thysanoptera; Phlaeothripidae), with new records from Africa, China and Japan, Zootaxa 4623 (3), pp. 555-562 : 557-559

Ophthalmothrips conocephalus (Karny)

( Figs 3, 7, 10, 12 )

Pyrgothrips conocephalus Karny, 1924: 36 .

Fulgorothrips priesneri Faure, 1933: 63–65 .

Pyrgothrips priesneri (Faure) : Haga, 1975: 278.

Mound (1974) synonymized priesneri with conocephalus . In contrast, Haga (1975) distinguished these two stating that the inner apex of the fore tibia of conocephalus bears a small seta-bearing tubercle. Mound (1974) described a specimen from Pretoria with a well-developed tubercle on the fore tibia, whereas one that was presumably from South Africa but incorrectly reported to be from Australia ( Mound 2012) lacks such a tubercle. Previously known only from South Africa, this species is here recorded from Madagascar. The specimens examined listed below can be identified as conocephalus by the following characters: preocular projection more than 0.8 times as long as wide ( Fig. 3 ); interocellar and postocular setae developed and interocellar setae of male slightly expanded at apex ( Fig. 12 ); fore tibiae with apical small tubercle in male ( Fig. 7 ); fore wing reduced; pelta broadly hat-shaped ( Fig. 10 ); tergal wing-retaining setae small, not sigmoid ( Fig. 10 ).

Measurements (one small–one large male in microns). Distended body length 3004–4217. Head, length 400– 530; length from anterior margin of eyes 294–370; width across eyes 193–242; width across cheeks 194–208; preocular projection length 101–156, width117–131; interocellar setae 54–83, postocular setae 53–118. Pronotum, median length 178–248; width 278–283; setae: aa 13–37, am 22–28, ml 11–53, pa 36–60, epim 57–91. Metanotum median setae 30–46. Fore wing length 182–299. Pelta, median length 112–141, width 268–316. Tergite IX posteromarginal setae S1 305–410, S2 345–380; anal 298–356. Tube, length 237–342; basal width 86–109; apical width 44–58.Antennal segments I–VIII length (width): 54–67(36–49); 64–76(33–44); 134–189(25–39); 112–154(31–38); 85–115(29–37); 72–83(30–34); 50–63(22–26); 49–65(16–20).

Specimens examined. SOUTH. AFRICA, Transvaal, Kruger N.P., Olifants Camp, 2 males and females from grass tussock, 6-viii-74, B.R.Pitkin 796 (in BMNH); Natal , Pietermaritzburg, 13-viii-1989, 1 male from half-dried bushes and branches, R. zur Strassen (in SMF) ; Natal , St. Lucia, 1 female from mixed vegetation, 22-x-1981, J. Klapperich (in SMF) . MADAGASCAR, Antanimieva , Tulear district, 22°22S, 44°43E, 1 male in sweep net, 20- vi-1994, C.C.D. Tingle (in ANIC) ; Beamalo Tulear district , 24°08×45° 2 males in sweep net, 15, 28-v-1994, C.C.D. Tingle (in ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 1–12. Ophthalmothrips species. Head, 1–4: (1) amyae females; (2) breviceps male; (3) conocephalus female from Madagascar; (4) faurei female from Japan. (5) amyae female tergite III. Male fore tibia and tarsus 6–8: (6) amyae; (7) conocephalus; (8) faurei. (9) amyae female pelta; (10) conocephalus male pelta and tergite II; (11) faurei male pelta; (12) conocephalus male interocellar setae.