Azaleothrips bifidius, Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014

Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014, Species-richness in the Oriental fungus-feeding thrips of the genus Azaleothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3846 (3), pp. 301-347 : 312

Azaleothrips bifidius sp.n.

( Figs 19–23 )

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown, abdominal segments VIII paler laterally. Antennal segment III pale brown, with basal half yellowish; basal 1/3 of segment IV yellowish, the remaining segments concolorous with body. All femora concolorous with body, with apices yellowish; all tibiae yellow. Fore wing weakly shaded with brown, basal 1/4 and median constriction a little paler.

Head ( Fig. 19 ) a little longer than wide; dorsal surface entirely sculptured with distinct lines of reticulation, reticles situated at middorsum with internal delicate wrinkles; cheeks straight. Postocular setae much longer than half the length of compound eye. Antennal segments VIII distinct from segment VII; segments VII + VIII longer than segment III; segment IV comparatively slender, longer than segment III; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Mouth cone long, reaching mesopresternum. Pronotum ( Fig. 20 ) reticulate with internal wrinkles medially, with weak medial longitudinal groove, with 21 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 21 ) with very small tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 21 ) longitudinally striate or reticulate, with fine dots among lines, anterior half usually with 4 short setae. Fore tarsus with a tooth. Fore wing with 7/7 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta weakly reticulate. Lateral sculpture on tergite II very fine ( Fig. 22 ). S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX much longer than half the length of tube, S2 setae sharply pointed at apex. Tube about 0.6 times as long as head. Anal setae longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length about 2000. Head length 206, width across cheeks 190. Pronotum length 137, width 250. Fore wing length about 680. Tube length 118, width across base 55. Antenna length 415, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 62 (33), 67 (32), 56 (27), 53 (24), 42 (20), 29 (12). Postocular setae about 50. S1 setae on tergite IX 75, S2 setae on tergite IX about 90.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Distal half of fore femur gradually paler toward apex. Head longer than wide, 1.2 times as long as wide. Pronotum reticulate, weak medially, with stout medial longitudinal groove. Fore wings with 6/7 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII interrupted medially ( Fig. 23 ). S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX short and pointed.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length 1580. Head length 180, width across cheeks 150. Pronotum length 118, width 198. Fore wing length about 580. Tube length 108, width across base 48. Antenna length about 350, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 55 (29), 58 (28), 52 (22), 47 (21), 38 (18), 25 (11). Postocular setae 45. S1 setae on tergite IX 75 –77, S2 setae on tergite IX 40 –42. Anal setae 120.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Philippines, Luzon Is., Bicol National Park, on dead leaves, 11.viii.1979 (SO).

Paratypes: Philippines, 1 male, data very similar to holotype, on dead Palmae fronds, 12.viii.1979 (SO).

Remarks. This species may be an aberrant member of the amabilis group, and is very similar to a sympatric species, philippinensis described below, in having sharply pointed S2 setae on the abdominal tergite IX in the female, slender antennal segments, longer postocular setae, longer mouth cone, and medially interrupted sterna male pore plate. However, from philippinensis , this species differs in the brown fore femora and the stouter pronotal sculpture.

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 23. Azaleothrips bifidius sp. n. (19) head, female; (20) pronotum, female; (21) meso & metanotum, female; (22) tergite II, female; (23) sternite VIII, male.