Azaleothrips philippinensis, 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 : 332-333

Azaleothrips philippinensis sp.n.

( Figs 92–96 )

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

Head ( Fig. 92 ) a little longer than wide; dorsal surface entirely sculptured with distinct lines of reticulation, almost smooth among reticles; cheeks rather 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, 2.1 times as long as wide; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Mouth cone long, reaching mesopresternum. Pronotum ( Fig. 93 ) distinctly sculptured with lines of reticulation, not tuberculate, almost smooth among reticles, with weak median longitudinal groove, with 21 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 94 ) with very small tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 94 ) longitudinally irregularly striate, with fine dots among lines, anterior half usually with 4 or 5 short setae (5 in holotype). Fore tarsus with a stout tooth. Fore wing with 7/9 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta weakly reticulate. Lateral sculpture on tergite II very fine ( Fig. 95 ). 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 2100. Head length 205, width across cheeks 193. Pronotum length 153, width 267. Fore wing length about 720. Tube length 117, width across base 60. Antenna length 445, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 62 (35), 70 (33), 62 (27), 51 (24), 43 (21), 30 (12). Postocular setae about 50. S1 setae on tergite IX 75 –78, S2 setae on tergite IX 100–105. Anal setae 140.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Intermediate abdominal segments paler than segment II, segment VIII more or less yellowish. Head 1.1 times as long as wide. Pronotum weakly sculptured marginally, with stout median longitudinal groove. Fore wings with 7/7 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII interrupted medially ( Fig. 96 ). S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX short and pointed.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length 1625. Head length 180, width across cheeks 162. Pronotum length 120, width 218. Fore wing length about 620. Tube length 112, width across base 53. Antenna length about 360, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 55 (30), 60 (31), 53 (23), 48 (21), 38 (21), 25 (12). Postocular setae 50–52. S1 setae on tergite IX 77 –80, S2 setae on tergite IX 38 –42.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Philippines, Luzon Is., Bicol National Park, on dead leaves, 12.viii.1979 (SO).

Paratypes: Philippines, 1 female and 1 male, Luzon Is., Quezon National Forest Park, on dead leaves, 22.viii.1979 (SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group, and is closely related to a sympatric species, bifidius , described above. These two species shares sharply pointed lateral pair of setae (S2) on the abdominal tergite IX in the female and medially interrupted male pore plate on the abdominal sternite VIII. The difference between them is discussed under bifidius . Moreover, there are two females which are undoubtedly related to this species in the collection of TUA. One of these two was collected from West Malaysia (20km N from Kuala Lumpur, Templer Park, 13.viii.1990), and the other was collected from Indonesia (E. Java, Mt. Arujuna, 19.iv.1981).

Figures

FIGURES 87 – 96. Azaleothrips species. mindanaoensis sp. n. female 87 – 91: (87) head; (88) antennal segments III & IV; (89) antennal segments VII & VIII; (90) pronotum; (91) meso & metanotum. philippinensis sp. n. 92 – 96: (92) head, female; (93) pronotum, female; (94) meso & metanotum, female; (95) tergite II, female; (96) sternite VIII, male.