Buffettithrips, Mound, Laurence A. & Wells, Alice, 2015

Mound, Laurence A. & Wells, Alice, 2015, Endemics and adventives: Thysanoptera (Insecta) biodiversity of Norfolk, a tiny Pacific Island, Zootaxa 3964 (2), pp. 183-210 : 192-194

Buffettithrips gen.n.

Erected for the single new species described below ( Fig. 17 ), this new genus is presumably endemic to Norfolk Island. The species is fungus-feeding, and is often abundant in the National Park where it breeds on the dead fallen leaves of the endemic plant Cordyline obtecta (Asparagaceae) , the Norfolk Island Breadfruit that is sometimes known as Rauti . The new genus shares most character states with Adraneothrips , a genus of leaf-litter species that is widespread in tropical countries (Dang et al. 2013). It is distinguished by the remarkable sculpture of the metanotum and pelta ( Figs 14, 15 ), and the unusually pale colour of the body. In contrast, species of Adraneothrips are either dark brown or bicoloured, and all of them lack any strong surface sculpture. Moreover, the head of the new species is long and projects in front of the eyes, and in contrast to Adraneothrips species the prosternal basantra are not completely absent.

Generic diagnosis. Head long with cheeks slightly constricted behind large eyes, weakly projecting in front of eyes ( Fig. 9 ); postocular setae arising behind inner margin of eyes; stylets less than 1/5 of head width apart, not retracted as deeply as postocular setae; antennae 8-segmented ( Fig. 11 ), III with 3 sense cones, IV with 4; pronotum with 5 pairs of major setae; notopleural sutures complete or weakly incomplete ( Fig. 10 ); basantra weak, ferna broadly triangular but not meeting in mid-line, mesopresternum transverse; metathoracic sternopleural sutures absent; fore tarsal tooth not developed; fore wings not constricted medially, without duplicated cilia; pelta elongate bell-shaped ( Fig. 15 ); tergites II–VII with 2 pairs of wing-retaining setae, each posterior pair thicker than anterior pair; tergite IX with setal pair iS half as long as S1; tube with straight sides, shorter than head; male sternite VIII with rectangular pore plate. Type species Buffettithrips rauti sp. n.

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 21. Phlaeothripidae species. (16) Bamboosiella cingulata; (17) Buffettithrips rauti; (18) Haplothrips gowdeyi; (19) Holoengythrips maynardae; (20) Hoplandrothrips leai, male; (21) Priesneria akestra.

FIGURES 9 – 15. Buffettithrips rauti sp. n. (9) Head; (10) Pronotum and mesonotum; (11) Antennal segments III – VIII; (12) Male sternite VIII; (13) Male tergites IX – X; (14) Metanotum; (15) Pelta and tergite II.