Azaleothrips richardi, 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 : 337

Azaleothrips richardi sp.n.

( Figs 117–122 )

Female macroptera. Body brown. Antennal segment III yellowish brown, basal 1/3 paler; basal 1/4 of segment IV more or less paler. Fore femora brown, mid and hind femora brown with bases and apices yellowish; all tibiae brown at middle, bases and apices yellowish. Fore wing very weakly shaded, paler at basal 1/4.

Head ( Fig. 117 ) distinctly longer than wide, about 1.2 times as long as wide; dorsal surface generally distinctly reticulate with lines, reticles situated laterally and posteriorly with minute tubercles along lines. Cheeks straight. Postocular setae about half the length of compound eye or longer. Antennal segments VIII distinct from segment VII ( Fig. 118 ), but widely fused; segments III, IV and V subequal in length; segment IV about 1.7 times as long as wide; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 119 ) distinctly sculptured with rows of small tubercles, asperate, with 20 short setae in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 121 ) with very small dentate microtrichia along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 121 ) longitudinally reticulate, longitudinal lines of reticles somewhat thick, weakly coarse among reticles; anterior half with 4 or 5 short setae (4 in holotype). Fore tarsus unarmed ( Fig. 120 ). Fore wing with 6/7 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta weakly reticulate. S1 setae of abdominal tergite IX much longer than half the length of tube, S2 setae sharply pointed at apex. Tube short, a little longer than half the length of head. Anal setae almost as long as tube or a little longer.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 1620. Head length 197, width across cheeks 168. Pronotum length 117, width 203. Fore wing length 610. Tube length 109, width across base 47. Antenna length 315, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 45 (27), 45 (27), 45 (25), 42 (24), 33 (21), 22 (13). Postocular setae 30–35. S1 setae on tergite IX 72 –74, S2 setae on tergite IX 85 –88. Anal setae 115.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Abdominal segment VIII yellowish. Head about 1.2 times as long as wide. Fore tarsus with a tooth. Fore wings with 7/7 duplicated cilia. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, narrow. S2 seae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length about 1500. Head length 179, width across cheeks 148. Pronotum length 113, width 193. Fore wing length about 560. Tube length 105, width across base 48. Antenna length about 310, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 44 (25), 45 (25), 43 (23), 42 (22), 32 (20), 20 (12). Postocular setae 35–38. S1 setae on tergite IX 63 –66, S2 setae on tergite IX about 40. Anal setae 112–114.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: West Malaysia, about 20km from Kuala Lumpur, Templer Park, on dead branches, 11.viii.1990 (TN & SO).

Paratypes: West Malaysia, 2 females and 1 male, collected with holotype.

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group. The lateral pair of setae (S2) on abdominal tergite IX in the female of this species are sharply pointed, and this character state is sharing with two species, bifidius and philippinensis , described above. However, it is distinctive from those species in having longer head proportion, unarmed fore tarsi in female and male pore plate on the abdominal sternite VIII not interrupted medially.

The specific name is dedicated to late Dr. Richard zur Strassen, Senkenberg Museum, Germany.

Figures

FIGURES 111 – 122. Azaleothrips species. reticulatus sp. n. female 111 – 116: (111) head; (112) antennal segments VII & VIII; (113) pronotum; (114) meso & metanotum; (115) tergite II; (116) tergite V. richardi sp. n., female 117 – 122: (117) head; (118) antennal segments VII & VIII; (119) pronotum; (120) right fore leg; (121) meso & metanotum; (122) tergite II.