Azaleothrips simulans, 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 : 338-341

Azaleothrips simulans sp.n.

( Figs 130–135 )

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 1/3.

Head ( Fig. 130 ) slightly longer than wide, about 1.1 times as long as wide; dorsal surface strongly sculptured with reticles, but middorsal area (especially between postocular setae) asperate, without distinct reticles, reticles situated laterally and posteriorly with minute tubercles along lines. Compound eyes comparatively small, about 0.3 times as long as head. Postocular setae short, much shorter than half the length of eyes. Antennal segments VII and VIII closely fused; segment IV much shorter than segment III; segment III with two (1 + 1), segment IV with three (1 + 2) sensoria. Mouth cone comparatively short. Pronotum ( Fig. 131 ) distinctly sculptured with rows of small tubercles, asperate, with 30 short setae in holotype. Basantra very weakly present, eroded. Mesonotum ( Fig. 132 ) with small dentate microtrichia or tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 132 ) longitudinally reticulate marginally, strongly asperate and without lines of reticulation at middle, sculpture become blurred anteriorly; anterior half with 7 to 10 short setae (10 in holotype). Fore tarsus unarmed. Fore wing with 5/5 duplicated cilia in holotype. Pelta ( Fig. 132 ) trapezoid, distinctly reticulate and with wrinkles among median reticles, with dots among posterior reticles. Abdominal tergites entirely reticulate, dentate microtrichia fewer ( Fig. 133 ); tergit VIII with a pair of minute setae at middle; tergite IX with 7 to 10 short setae at middle (7 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 shorter than 0.6 times as long as head. Anal setae longer than tube.

Measurements (holotype female (mac.) in microns). Distended body length 1670. Head length 198, width across cheeks 180. Compound eye dorsal length about 60. Pronotum length 120, width 208. Fore wing length about 580. Tube length 113, width across base 55. Antenna length about 310, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 50 (28), 43 (28), 41 (25), 40 (24), 30 (20), 22 (15). Postocular setae 20–25. S1 setae on tergite IX 50 –52, S2 setae on tergite IX 63 –65. Anal setae 135.

Female microptera. Very similar to macropterous female in color and structure. Compound eye smaller, about 0.3 times as long as head. Metathorax shorter, metanotum ( Fig. 134 ) entirely strongly asperate, without lines of reticulation. Pelta ( Fig. 134 ) wider. Wing-retaining setae shorter.

Measurements (paratype female (mic.) in microns). Distended body length 1650. Head length 190, width across cheeks 180. Compound eye median length 54. Pronotum length 123, width 215. Fore wing length 125. Tube length 113, width across base 57. Antenna length 305, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 47 (27), 41 (27), 40 (25), 42 (25), 30 (21), 20 (16). Postocular setae about 20. S1 setae on tergite IX 50, S2 setae on tergite IX 56 –58. Anal setae 140.

Male microptera. Color and structure very similar to micropterous female. Abdominal segment VIII somewhat yellowish. Pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, but narrow. S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX expanded at apex, longer than S1.

Measurements (paratype male (mic.) in microns). Distended body length 1380. Head length 165, width across cheeks 150. Compound eye dorsal length 43. Pronotum length 107, width 181. Fore wing length 115. Tube length 80, width across base 52. Antenna length 285, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 43 (25), 37 (25), 38 (22), 37 (22), 30 (20), 20 (14). Postocular setae?. S1 setae on tergite IX about 30, S2 setae on tergite IX 34 –36. Anal setae 110.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Indonesia, Bali Is., 20km NE from Gillimanuk, Banyuwedan, on dead branches, 29.viii.1984 (SO).

Paratypes: Indonesia, 6 females (mac.), 3 females (mic.) and 2 males (mic.), collected with holotype; 2 females (mac.), 1 female (mic.) and 8 males (mic.), data very similar to holotype, but 28.viii.1984; Flores Is., 1 female (mac.), Ende, Komandaru, on dead branches, 23.viii.2006, 1 female (mac.) and 1 male (mic.), Ngada, Bajawa, Donatana, on dead branches, 29.viii.2006 (SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the moundi group, and is very similar in appearance to bulelengi , described above also from Bali Is., Indonesia. However, A. simulans can easily be distinguished by the following features: Antennal segment IV with three (1 + 2) sensoria; head shorter, 1.05 to 1.10 times as long as wide; pelta trapezoid; dentate microtrichia on abdominal tergites fewer; tergite VIII with a pair of minute setae at middle.

Figures

FIGURES 130 – 140. Azaleothrips species. simulans sp. n. female 130 – 135: (130) head, macroptera; (131) pronotum, macroptera; (132) mesonotum, metanotum & pelta, macroptera; (133) tergite II, macroptera; (134) mesonotum, metanotum & pelta, microptera; (135) tergite II, microptera. sulawesicus sp. n. 136 – 140: (136) head, female; (137) pronotum, female; (138) meso & metanotum, female; (139) tergite II, female; (140) sternite VIII, male.