Azaleothrips bulelengi, 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 : 313-314

Azaleothrips bulelengi sp.n.

( Figs 24–27 )

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown. Antennal segments I and II slightly paler than head, segment III yellow, basal neck of segment IV yellowish. All femora brown to dark brown, with apices yellow; all tibiae brown at middle, with bases and apices yellowish. Fore wing shaded with brown, paler in basal 1/4.

Head ( Fig. 24 ) distinctly longer than wide, usually longer than 1.2 times as long as wide; dorsal surface strongly sculptured with reticles, but mid dorsal area asperate, minute tubercles situated laterally and posteriorly along lines. Cheeks rather straight, weakly narrowed posteriorly. Compound eyes comparatively small, about 1/3 the length of head. Postocular setae short, much shorter than half the length of eyes. Antennal segments VII and VIII closely fused ( Fig. 25 ); segment IV a little shorter than segment III; segment III with two (1 + 1), segment IV with four sensoria. Mouth cone comparatively short. Pronotum ( Fig. 26 ) distinctly sculptured with rows of small tubercles, asperate; tubercles on posteromedian portion somewhat larger; with 31 short setae in holotype. Basantra present, but weak. Mesonotum ( Fig. 27 ) with small dentate microtrichia or tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 27 ) margins with longitudinal reticulations, strongly asperate and not reticulate at middle; anterior half with 7 to 10 short setae (7 in holotype). Fore tarsus unarmed. Fore wing with 6/6 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta distinctly reticulate. Abdominal tergite VIII with a pair of simply curved short wing-retaining setae (cf. Fig. 5 ); tergite IX with 6 to 10 short setae at middle (6 in holotype); S1 setae on tergite IX a little shorter than half the length of tube; S2 setae on tergite IX expanded at apex. Tube short, a little longer than half the length of head. Anal setae somewhat longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 1520. Head length 213, width across cheeks 168. Compound eye dorsal length about 70. Pronotum length 115, width 210. Fore wing length about 600. Tube length 112, width across base 52. Antenna length about 310, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 50 (28), 47 (27), 41 (24), 40 (23), 34 (21), 20 (15). Postocular setae shorter than 25. S1 setae on tergite IX 48 –50, S2 setae on tergite IX about 60. Anal setae 130.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Abdominal segment VIII yellowish. Fore tarsus unarmed. Fore wings with 4/6 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, but narrow. S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX almost half the length of tube; S2 setae well developed, longer than S1, expanded at apex.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length 1420. Head length 182, width across cheeks 146. Pronotum length 106, width 180. Fore wing length about 570. Tube length?, width across base 50. Antenna length about 290, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 45 (25), 42 (25), 40 (23), 38 (22), 30 (20), 20 (15). Postocular setae 25. S1 setae on tergite IX 35, S2 setae on tergite IX about 50. Anal setae 115.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Indonesia, Bali Is., Buleleng, Melanting, on dead wood, 15.viii.2006 (SO).

Paratypes: Indonesia, 5 females and 1 male, collected with holotype; 1 female and 1 male, data very similar to holotype, 16.viii.2006 (SO); Buleleng, Desa Melanting, 2 females, 30.viii.2005, 1 female, 31.viii.2005 (SO); 1 female, Buleleng, Pura Belatung, 30.viii.2005 (SO); 1 female, Tabanan, Muncak Sari, Pura Luhur, 2.ix.2005 (SO). Non-paratipic specimens: Indonesia, Flores Is., on dead branches, 1female, Manggarai, Gololoni, 25.viii.2006, 1female and 2 males, Ngada, Bajawa, Donatana, 29.viii.2006 (SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the moundi group, and is very similar to apoensis , newly described above from the Philippines. However, it can be distinguished from that species by the following features: Antennal segment III clear yellow; pronotum with fewer short setae; metanotum asperate medially ( Fig. 27 ); tube shorter than 0.6 times as long as the length of head. The non-paratypic specimens listed above taken from Flores Island could not be distinguished satisfactorily from this species, but they do not have simply curved setae (=?wingretaining setae) on the abdominal tergite VIII.

Figures

FIGURES 24 – 27. Azaleothrips bulelengi sp. n. female. (24) head; (25) antennal segments VII & VIII; (26) pronotum; (27) meso & metanotum.

FIGURES 1 – 11. Azaleothrips species. apoensis sp. n. female 1 – 5: (1) head; (2) antennal segments VII and VIII; (3) pronotum; (4) meso & metanotum; (5) tergites VIII & IX. atayal sp. n. 6 – 11: (6) head, female; (7) antennal segments III & IV, female; (8) antennal segments VII & VIII, female; (9) pronotum, female; (10) meso & metanotum, female; (11) sternite VIII, male.