Aliceathrips, Mound, Laurence A., 2011

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064 (1), pp. 1-40 : 7

Aliceathrips gen.n.

( Figs 1–22 )

Diagnosis. Macropterous Thripinae . Antennae 7- or 8-segmented, segment I with no dorso-apical setae, sensoria on III–IV simple, (forked on IV in engaius ); segments II–III with few or no microtrichia. Head projecting conically in front of eyes, cheeks almost parallel; compound eyes with 5 pigmented facets; ocellar setae pair I present, pair III arising between anterior margins of posterior ocelli; maxillary palps 2-segmented (3-segmented in engaius ), mouth cone large. Pronotum scarcely wider at posterior than anterior, surface with faint transverse reticulation, discal setae small; with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae, 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae. Prosternal basantra with no setae; ferna continuous medially; spinasternum transverse, meso and meta furca without spinula (mesofurcal spinula present in engaius ), mesothoracic sterno-pleural sutures complete; metapre-episternum transverse. Mesonotal anterior campaniform sensilla present, median pair of setae distant from posterior margin. Metanotal sculpture irregularly linear/reticulate on posterior half; median setae near anterior margin, closer to lateral pair than to each other; no campaniform sensilla. Tarsi 2-segmented. Fore wing slender, first vein with 3 widely spaced setae on distal half; second vein with few widely spaced setae; clavus with 4 or 5 veinal setae but no discal seta; posterior fringe wavy. Tergites weakly sculptured medially; II–VIII with craspedum present, campaniform sensilla near posterior margin, pleurotergites slender ( Fig. 2 ); IX with 2 pairs of campaniform sensilla, median dorsal setae slender to stout; X with median split complete or incomplete. Sternites with transverse row of discal setae, posterior margin with no craspedum; sternite II with 2 pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with 3 pairs, all arising at margin on VII. Male (where known) with or without transverse pore plate on antecostal area of some median sternites; tergite IX posterior margin with pair of stout processes.

Type-species Aliceathrips mnestes sp.n.

Comments. Species in this genus share many character states with the species in both Masamithrips and Monothrips . From both of these they differ in head shape, with the head larger and the cheeks less narrowed behind the eyes, and in lacking setae on the prosternal basantra. Moreover, in contrast to the species of Masamithrips , the males bear a pair of processes on the posterior margin of the ninth tergite, although pore plates on the antecostal area of the sternites are present or absent in different species. The genus also shares many character states with those of Ozanaphothrips , but the species in that genus lack prominent posteroangular setae on the pronotum. Aliceathrips has been found widely across northern Australia, with only a few specimens known from as far south as northern New South Wales. The genus is named in recognition of the many contributions by Alice Wells to our knowledge of Australian thrips.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Aliceathrips spp. A. australiensis 1 – 3: (1) head & thorax; (2) tergites V – VIII; (3) male tergites VIII – IX. A. engaius 4 – 8: (4) male tergites VII – IX; (5) head & thorax; (6) tergites I – III; (7) thoraxic sterna; (8) antenna. A. mnestes 9 – 10: (9) head; (10) sternites V – VII.

FIGURES 11 – 22. Aliceathrips spp. A. mnestes 11 – 16: (11 – 12) male tergites VIII – IX; (13) meso & metanota; (14) pronotum; (15) tergites VII – IX; (16) antenna. A. sorghi 17 – 18: (17) sternites V – VII; (18) male tergites VIII – IX. A. palmeri 19 – 22: (19) head & thorax; (20) tergites VIII – X; (21) male tergites VIII – IX; (22) male sternites V – VII.