Apostlethrips pygus, 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 : 6

Apostlethrips pygus sp.n.

(Figs 2, 4, 6, 8)

Female aptera. Body and legs mainly yellow; mesothoracic spiracle brown; abdominal segments VIII–X dark brown; antennal segments I–II yellow, III–VIII brown. Head with eyes bulging, cheeks sharply constricted behind eyes (Fig. 2); vertex projecting in front of eyes as two tubercles bearing antennae, with 3 pairs of stout setae and 3 pairs of minute setae between eyes; postocular setae short and stout, cheeks with one small stout seta. Antennae slender, segment II unusually elongate (Fig. 4). Fore tarsus with no tooth on inner margin. Pronotum with notopleural sutures almost fused, notopleural setae arise on distinct tubercles. Mesonotum transverse, spiracles exceptionally large (Fig. 8). Metanotum transverse with one pair of slender setae medially. Pterothoracic furcae stout, extending to coxal cavities. Pelta broad (Fig. 8), tergites II–VII with median setae small, two pairs of posteromarginal setae capitate; tergite IX tapering, with 8 pairs of stout setae (Fig. 6); tube tapering to apex from rugose base. Sternites with 7 pairs of marginal setae, these very stout on VI–VIII.

Measurements. Holotype female in microns. Body length 1550. Head, length 190; width across eyes 190; postocular setae 35; ocellar setae 35, 20, 15. Pronotum, length 125; median width 250; major setae am 10, aa 10, ml 10, epim 40, pa 15. Tergite III, median discal setae 20; major marginal setae 50, 75; posteroangular setae 50. Tergite IX setae 75. Tube length 120. Antennal segments I–VIII length 40, 65, 60, 52, 55, 45, 35, 30.

Male aptera. Similar to female but smaller, body length 1400.

Material studied

Holotype female aptera. Western Australia, Broome, coastal sand dunes, from base of Triodia sp., 28.ii.2005 (LAM 4640).

Paratypes: 5 females 6 males taken with holotype.

Comments

All of the available specimens are apterous, and the exceptionally strong development of the pterothoracic furcae suggests that winged forms are not likely to occur in this species. It is clearly closely related to A. apostus described above, but the array of stout setae on the ninth abdominal segment, and the curious shape of the eyes, are unique character states amongst members of this family. As with A. apostus , adults were observed to carry a plug of dark material on the abdominal apex with this curled over the body.