Heterothrips australis, 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 : 9

Heterothrips australis sp. n.

Female winged. Body brown, head darker ( Fig. 40 ); femora largely brown; tibiae brown with pale apex; tarsi paler; antennal segment I–II and V–IX brown, III–IV pale brown ( Fig. 42 ); fore wing brown but somewhat paler subbasally ( Fig. 40 ).

Head wider than long, with no long setae ( Fig. 49 ); ocellar region with three pairs of setae, pair III inside ocellar triangle, ocellar area broadly reticulated. Antennae 9-segmented, segment III slightly longer than IV, with two constrictions, one at the union between the short pedicel and the segment, the other near the base of the segment ( Figs 42–43 ); III–IV each one with one single row of small sensorial pores. Pronotum broadly reticulate ( Fig. 49 ) with about 30 long setae; mesonotum with transversely elongate reticles; metanotum with concentric lines of sculpture, not forming a triangle, covered with microtrichia ( Fig. 46 ). Fore wing with two rows of minute brown setae.

Abdominal tergites II–VII with broad and continuous posterior craspedum, bearing a fringe of fine microtrichia. Abdominal tergites I–VIII with few lines of medial sculptures, bearing small microtrichia; lateral thirds of tergites I–VIII covered with fine microtrichia ( Figs 44, 47 ). Sternites II–VI with a well developed posterior craspedum bearing microtrichia; with about six pairs of posteromarginal setae, and no discal setae ( Fig. 48 ).

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1120 (distended). Head, length 92; width 125. Pronotum, length 115; width 177. Fore wing length 560; median width 32. Abdominal tergites IX and X length 77, 70. Antennal segments I–IX length (width), 23 (27), 33 (25), 45 (22), 35 (22), 28 (20), 27 (20), 17 (12), 17 (10), 17 (5).

Male winged. Smaller and paler than female; sternites III (or IV)–VIII each one with a small oval pore plate at antecostal ridge.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 840 (distended). Head, length 80; width 105. Pronotum, length 102; width 150. Fore wing length 450; median width 28. Abdominal segments IX + X length 118; width 80.

Material examined. Holotype female, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, (30º03’59”S, 51º07’15”W), 26.x.2011, on Borreria vertillata flowers (A. Cavalleri). Paratypes: 17 females, 1 male collected with holotype; 1 female with similar data but 14.ii.2011; Rio Grande do Sul, Viamão, 21.xi.1999 and 21.xi.2003, 10 females, 3 males on Borreria vertillata flowers (S.M. Pinent & A. Cavalleri); Viamão, 13.ii.2001, 4 females on Eryngium nudicaule flowers (A. Cavalleri); Goiás, Alto Paraíso de Goiás, 27.i.2011, 2 females on Borreria flowers (F.S. de Melo).

Comments. Larvae and adults are very abundant in Borreria inflorescences ( Rubiaceae ) and seem to co-exist with Haplothrips spp. This species is possibly related to savanicus which also breeds in flowers of herbaceous Rubiaceae . The shape of the antennal segments, as well the single row of minute sensorial pores on antennal segments III–IV, is quite similar between these species. However, differences can be observed in antennal coloration and the presence of continuous craspedal lobes on the posterior margin of the abdominal tergites, contrasting with the lateral entire craspeda of savanicus . The other Brazilian species with continuous craspedal lobes is marginatus , and differences between these two species include coloration and differences in the median area of the abdominal tergites: for australis it is reticulate with few microtrichia, whereas for marginatus there is no reticulation or microtrichia ( Fig. 45 ).

Figures

FIGURES 40 – 49. Brazilian Heterothrips. H. australis sp. n. female 40, 42 – 44, 46 – 49: 40. Dorsal view; 42. Antenna; 43. Antennal segments III – IV; 44. Abdominal tergites IV – VI; 46. Mesonotum and metanotum; 47. Abdominal tergites I – VI; 48. Abdominal sternites II – VI; 49. Head and pronotum. H. marginatus female 41, 45: 41. Dorsal view; 45. Abdominal tergites IV – V.