Heterothrips obscurus, Pereyra, Veronica & Cavalleri, Adriano, 2012

Pereyra, Veronica & Cavalleri, Adriano, 2012, The genus Heterothrips (Thysanoptera) in Brazil, with an identification key and seven new species, Zootaxa 3237, pp. 1-23 : 12

Heterothrips obscurus sp. n.

Female winged. Body brown ( Fig. 29 ); femora brown; fore tibia largely pale, slightly washed with brown basally, mid and hind tibia brown at base but pale apically; tarsi pale; antennal segment I–II and V–IX brown, III pale, IV brown at apical third ( Fig. 38 ); fore wing brown with a large pale band near the base ( Fig. 29 ).

Head wider than long, with no long setae ( Fig. 34 ); ocellar region with three pairs of setae, pair III at anterior margin of ocellar triangle; interantennal projection with widely separated arms ( Fig. 35 ). Antennae 9-segmented, segment III apparently divided into three parts, IV entire and shorter than segment III ( Figs 37–38 ). Both segments with one unaligned row of conspicuous sensorial pores dorsally; segment IX unusually long and narrow basally ( Figs 38 ). Pronotum reticulate-striate with no long setae ( Fig. 36 ); mesonotum reticulate-striate, with sculpture lines not closely spaced medially; metanotum with sculpture forming concentric lines medially, covered with microtrichia and almost forming a triangle ( Fig. 30 ). Fore wing with two rows of conspicuous brown setae. Abdominal tergites I–VII with fine and sparse microtrichia laterally, posterolateral margins with irregular craspedal lobes each bearing short and pointed teeth; II–V with few marginal microtrichia medially ( Fig. 31 ); VI–VII with complete fringe of microtrichia medially; VIII with complete posteromarginal comb ( Fig. 32 ). Sternites with 6 pairs of posteromarginal setae, I–VII without discal setae ( Fig. 33 ).

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1110 (distended). Head, length 71; width 131. Pronotum, length 204; width 169. Fore wing length 570; median width 32. Abdominal tergites IX and X length 77, 72. Antennal segments I–IX length (width), 20 (30), 35 (25), 68 (27), 45 (25), 23 (15), 23 (12), 15 (10), 15 (7), 23 (5).

Male winged. Smaller but similar in coloration ( Fig. 39 ); abdominal segments II–VI with craspedum interrupted medially, with long and fine teeth; lateral thirds of I–VIII covered with numerous and irregular rows of microtrichia; intermediate abdominal sternites without discal setae, III–VIII with large transverse pore plates.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 900 (distended). Head, length 88; width 127. Pronotum, length 120; width 180. Fore wing length 510; median width 28; Abdominal segments IX + X length 117; width 90.

Material examined. Holotype female, Brazil, São Paulo, Campinas, Sincontron, (22º48’10”S, 47º03’14”W), 18.iii.2010, on Byrsonima intermedia flowers ( Malpighiaceae ) (A. Cavalleri). Paratypes: 1 female, 1 male, collected with holotype.

Comments. Despite the short pedicel on antennal segment III and the absence of discal setae on the abdominal sternites, this species is very similar to pedicellatus . The unusual shape of the interantennal projection and the medially interrupted craspedum on abdominal tergites reinforces the relationship between these two taxa.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 39. Brazilian Heterothrips. H. obscurus sp. n female 29 – 38: 29. Dorsal view; 30. Mesonotum and metanotum; 31. Abdominal tergites I – V; 32. Abdominal tergites V – VIII; 33. Abdominal sternites II – VI; 34. Head; 35. Ventral view of the head (arrow indicates interantennal projection); 36. Pronotum; 37. Antennal segments III – IV; 38. Antenna. H. obscurus sp. n. male: 39. Dorsal view.