Lissothrips corticosus, Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2015

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2015, Species of Lissothrips and Williamsiella from mosses and lichens in Australia and New Zealand (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 3946 (3), pp. 361-373 : 363-367

Lissothrips corticosus sp.n.

( Figs 1 , 8 , 16 , 24 )

Female microptera. Body, legs and antennae brown, tarsi paler, pedicel of antennal segment III yellow, tube dark brown, major setae pale. Head slightly wider than long, weakly reticulate near posterior margin ( Fig. 8 ); compound eyes small, with about 12 large facets dorsally, also about 10 ventrally narrowing to a single facet at posterior; po setae long and capitate; maxillary stylets retracted to level of po setae, about one third of head width apart medially. Antennae 8-segmented, III unusually small and sub-spherical with no sense cones ( Fig. 1 ), IV with 2 stout sense cones, VIII slender and narrowed to basal pedicel. Pronotum transverse, without sculpture; notopleural sutures variable, incomplete to fully complete; major setae all long and capitate. Fore tarsus with no tooth. Mesonotum transversely reticulate on anterior half, lateral setae minute; fore wing lobe with 2 capitate setae; metanotum almost without sculpture, median setae wide apart small and fine ( Fig. 16 ). Prosternal ferna weakly developed, usually hidden beneath mouth cone; basantra bluntly pointed medially; mesopresternum transverse, slender, sometimes reduced to slender lateral triangles ( Fig. 24 ); anterior margin of mesoeusternum transverse; metathoracic sternopleural sutures not developed. Abdomen with pelta broadly flattened, campaniform sensilla present ( Fig. 16 ); tergites with median setae minute, III–IV with 2 pairs of long capitate setae laterally, V–VIII with external pair acute; tergite IX setae finely acute and longer than tube; anal setae about as long as tube. Sternites with 8 to 10 small discal setae, median marginal setae longer than lateral pair.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1170. Head, length 125; width 135; po setae 45. Pronotum, length 100; width 175; setae—am 40, aa 38, ml 40, epim 40, pa 45. Fore wing lobe 35. Tergite IX setae S1 100. Tube length 75. Antennal segments III–VIII length, 27, 30, 35, 43, 40, 27.

Male microptera. Very similar to female, but smaller; prosternal ferna well developed; tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternite VIII with no pore plate.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1050. Pronotum, length 85; width 175; setae—am 30, aa 25, ml 30, epim 35, pa 40. Fore wing lobe 30. Tergite IX setae S1 95; S2 20. Tube length 70. Material studied. Holotype female microptera, Australia, Queensland, Brisbane Forest Park, from dead branch with moss and lichen, 16.i.2006 (LAM 4818).

Paratypes: Queensland, 4 females, 3 males taken with holotype; same site, 4 females, 3 males from dead branch with moss, 22.iii.2007; Lamington, O’Reilly’s, 1 male from dead twigs, 9.x.2006; Mt Fisher, 2 females, ix.1995; Lamington National Park, 1 female from yellow pan trap, vii.2007. New South Wales, Dorrigo National Park, Darkwood, 1 female from Ripogonum , iii.2010; Chichester Forest, 2 females from dead Nothofagus moorei branch, 24.xii.2000; Nelligen, 1 female from dead Acacia twig, 5.x.1997; Monga Forest, 1 male from dead branch, 24.i.2013.

Comments. Although similar in structure to the two species, discus and hypni , this species is distinguished from the other members of the genus known from Australia by the following character states: capitate setae on head and pronotum, maxillary stylets widely separated, third antennal segment short, prosternal ferna distinct, mesopresternum often complete, fore wing lobe relatively large with two long setae, pelta broad, males with no sternal pore plate.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Lissothrips species from Australia—antennae. (1) corticosus; (2) discus; (3) dentatus; (4) hypni; (5) tallagandai; (6) taverneri; (7) thomsonae.

FIGURES 8 – 15. Lissothrips species from Australia—head and pronotum. (8) corticosus; (9) discus; (10) hypni; (11) gersoni; (12) taverneri; (13) tallagandai; (14) discus; (15) thomsonae.

FIGURES 16 – 21. Lissothrips species from Australia—meso & metanotum and pelta. (16) corticosus; (17); dentatus; (18) discus; (19) hypni; (20) tallagandai; (21) taverneri.

FIGURES 22 – 28. Lissothrips species from Australia. (22) thomsonae meso & metanotum and pelta. (23) hypni male tergites VIII-X. Thoracic sternites 24 – 26: (24) corticosus, (25) tallagandai, (26) taverneri. Male sternite VIII 27 – 28: (27) tallagandai, (28) thomsonae.