Streptothrips tribulatius, Mound, Laurence A. & Minaei, Kambiz, 2006

Mound, Laurence A. & Minaei, Kambiz, 2006, New fungus­feeding thrips (Thysanoptera Phlaeothripinae) from tropical Australia, Zootaxa 1150, pp. 1-17 : 15-16

Streptothrips tribulatius sp.n.

( Figs 20–23 )

Female macroptera. Body and antennae uniformly light brown, except antennal segment II, all tarsi and apex of tube paler; major setae light brown; forewing pale at base but darker at least medially (distal half of wings missing).

Head longer than wide, eyes well developed, postocular setae long and blunt, postocellar setae about as long as distance between ocelli; maxillary stylets retracted nearly to eyes, close together medially, maxillary guides stout. Antennal sense cones numerous ( Fig. 23 ), 10 on III of which one or two are on the dorsal surface, 13 on IV, 9 on V; segment II with sensorium present on basal half of segment, VIII slender and about as long as VII. Pronotum with anteromarginal, anteroangular, midlateral and posteroangular pairs of setae scarcely longer than discal setae; notopleura with 2 pairs of long setae ( Fig. 20 ). Prosternal basantra not present but with at least 6 pairs of setae; ferna irregularly circular; spinasternum eroded, mesopraesternum absent, anterior border of mesoeusternum with 5 pairs of long setae; metathoracic sternopleural suture short but broadly eroded. Fore tarsus with stout tooth and stout ventral hamus, fore femora without tubercle; mid and hind tibial apex each with two stout conical setae ventrally. Forewing with 2 sub­basal setae. Mesonotal lateral setae short. Metanotum reticulate with 2 pairs of long setae medially. Pelta broadly triangular with posterior margin eroded (as in femoralis). Abdominal tergite II eroded laterally, median tergites with no wing retaining setae but with 2 pairs of long marginal setae laterally and one pair of shorter median discal setae; tergite IX ( Fig. 21 ) with 2 pairs of setae between S1 and S2, and another two pairs between S2 and S3, each of these pairs comprise one slender seta and one stout seta. Tube short, slightly constricted at apex, terminal setae short. Sternite VIII with transverse row of about 10 long setae, preceding sternites with long marginal setae, median pair longer than sternite length.

Measurements. Holotype female macroptera in microns. Body length 3000. Head, length 320; maximum width 250; postocular setae 75; postocellar setae 35. Pronotum, length 225; median width 380; major setae am 40, aa 30, ml 25, epim 180 and 90, pa 30, pm 25. Forewing basal setae 50, 75. Tergite IX setae S1 175; stout supernumerary seta 75. Tube length 125; longest anal setae 75. Antennal segments III–VIII length 90, 85, 85, 60, 55, 55.

Female aptera. Colour similar to macroptera. Head with no ocelli ( Fig. 20 ), compound eyes reduced to 3 ommatidia; postocular setae length 90, postocellar setae length 65. Antennal sense cones less numerous, III with 3, IV with 5, V with 4. Pronotum and prosternal sclerites similar to macroptera. Mesonotum and metanotum each with 3 pairs of long setae laterally ( Fig. 22 ), metanotum without reticulation. Pelta strongly eroded; tergites, tube and sternites similar to macroptera.

Male aptera. Paler than female and slightly smaller, but similar in general appearance. Antennal segments III–V each with 3 to 5 sense cones. Pronotum with posteroangular and posteromarginal setae longer (85, 80). Meso and metanota each with about 5 setae laterally. Pelta scarcely developed; abdominal chaetotaxy similar to female, tergite IX with setae S2 stout; sternites without glandular areas, VIII with fewer marginal setae than female.

Material studied

Holotype macropterous female. Queensland, Cape Tribulation, from dead branch, 7.vii.1995 (LAM 2726).

Paratypes: 2 female apterae, 1 male aptera, collected with holotype.

Comments

The macropterous form of this new species is readily distinguished from the seven previously described species in which macropterae are known by the larger number of sense cones, 10 or more, on the third and fourth antennal segments. The apterous form is distinguished from the two species in which apterae are known by the much shorter setae on the anterior and lateral margins of the pronotum, all three pairs being less than 0.3 as long as the longest notopleural setae instead of more than 0.5 times as long.

Figures

FIGURES 15 – 23. Jacotia, Stomothrips and Streptothrips species. (15) J. rhodorcha head and thorax; (16) J. rhodorcha antenna; (17) J. rhodorcha female; (18) Sto. mouldeni, dorsal; (19) Sto. mouldeni, ventral; (20) Str. tribulatius female aptera; (21) Str. tribulatius tergites VIII – X; (22) Str. tribulatius female aptera mesonotum and metanotum; (23) Str. tribulatius female macroptera antenna.