Ethirothrips dalatae sp. n.

(Figs 49–55, 220)

Female (macroptera). Distended body length: 2.4–3.1mm. Colour dark brown. Antennal segment III brownish yellow or yellowish brown with distal 1/2 shaded, segments IV–VIII dark brown, but segment IV scarcely paler at base. Femora dark brown, fore femora yellowish at apices, mid and hind femora scarcely paler at extreme apices, fore tibiae brownish yellow with bases paler, mid and hind tibiae dark brown with extreme bases slightly paler, tarsi brownish yellow. Fore wings shaded with brown, each with a light brown streak in basal half. Prominent setae yellowish. Head (Fig. 49) a little longer than broad, 1.2 times as long as broad in holotype, broadest across cheeks just behind eyes; dorsal surface almost smooth, sculptured marginally with weak striae or reticulation. Cheeks convex, but narrowed to base; each with a few minute setae. Postocular setae situated behind eyes, much longer than eyes, 0.40–0.45 times as long as head in holotype, nearly pointed; postocellar setae short, usually almost as long as diameter of a posterior ocellus, but often longer, situated behind posterior ocelli. Eyes directed forward, 0.26–0.27 times as long as head; posterior ocelli close to eyes, 22–24μm in diameter, 62μm apart from each other in holotype.Antennae (Fig. 50) about 1.8 times as long as head; segment VIII shorter than segment VII, not constricted basally; segment III about 2.2 times as long as broad in holotype, a little longer than segment IV; sense-cones short, but longer than 1/3 of the segment, segment IV with four sense-cones. Maxillary stylets deeply retracted, reaching postocular setae, V-shaped. Pronotum (Fig. 49) about half the length of head; dorsal surface almost smooth, very weakly sculptured with transverse reticulation posteriorly. Prominent setae nearly pointed, aa much longer than am, epim the longest. Mesopresternum (Fig. 51) widely boat-shaped. Metanotum (Fig. 52) without CPS. Fore femora moderately enlarged; fore tarsus (Fig. 53) with a tooth. Fore wings each usually with less than 15 duplicated cilia, with 11–12 cilia in holotype; sub-basal setae S1 and S2 nearly pointed, S3 sharply pointed. Pelta (Fig. 52) trilobed. Abdominal tergite II (Fig. 54) weakly eroded laterally at anterior 2/3. Posteromarginal setae on abdominal tergite IX sharply pointed, shorter than tube, S1 shorter than S2. Tube (Fig. 55) a little longer than head, about 2.5 times as long as broad, sides weakly convex, weakly constricted at apex.

Measurements (holotype female in μm). Body length about 3000 (distended). Head length 310, from anterior margin of eyes 290, maximum width across cheeks 258, minimum width near base 195; eyes length 83, width 75; postocular setae 125–138. Antenna total length 550, segments I–VIII length (width) as follows: 67 (45), 68 (37), 85 (39), 82 (38), 75 (37), 70 (33), 55 (25), 45 (16). Pronotum length 155, width 310. Setae on prothorax: am about 30, aa 50–60, ml 55–60, pa 115, epim 140. Fore wing length 1250. Sub-basal wing setae: S1 40 –50, S2 63–75, S3 130–150. Setae on tergite IX: S1 240–250, S2 280–290. Tube length 320, maximum width 130; terminal setae 90.

Male (macroptera). Distended body length: 2.0– 2.8mm. Colour and structure very similar to female. Postocellar setae longer than diameter of a posterior ocellus. Prothorax and fore legs stouter, pronotum about 0.7 times as long as head in large male. Tube shorter than head, about 2.3–2.4 times as long as broad.

Measurements (paratype large male in μm). Body length 2750 (distended). Head length 310, from anterior margin of eyes 280, maximum width across cheeks 236, minimum width near base 185; eyes length 95, width 68; postocular setae 160. Antenna total length 500, segments I–VIII length (width) as follows: 65 (45), 62 (35), 85 (35), 77 (37), 74 (35), 62 (32), 50 (25), 40 (15). Pronotum length 215, width 355. Setae on prothorax: am 25–30, aa 70–90, ml 112–116, pa 180–190, epim 150. Fore wing length 1200. Sub-basal wing setae: S1 42 –48, S2 90, S3 185–195. Setae on tergite IX: S1 240–255, S2 280–290. Tube length 285, maximum width 122; terminal setae 210.

Type series. Holotype: macropterous female, Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., Da Lat, Trai Mat Ward, Xuan Tho, on dead branches, 24.xii.2001, SO . Paratypes: Vietnam, 3 females and 3 males, collected together with holotypes; Lam Dong Prov., Bao Loc, Dam Bri, 1 female and 1 male, on dead leaves and branches, 27.xii.2001, 1 male, on bamboo, 28.xii.2001, SO.

Remarks. E. dalatae is somewhat similar to E. distasmus (Mound) from Australia in having forwardly directed compound eyes, convex cheeks and relatively long and V-shaped maxillary stylets. However, dalatae can easily be distinguished from distasmus by the darker tibiae, longer pronotal setae, pointed postocular setae, stouter fore tarsal tooth and the different shape of pelta which has broad lateral wings (Fig. 52). E. dalatae is also similar to E. brevis in the head shape, but the latter species has a pair of CPS on the metanotum.