Hoplandrothrips flavipes Bagnall

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2013, Fungus-feeding thrips from Australia in the worldwide genus Hoplandrothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae), Zootaxa 3700 (3), pp. 476-494 : 484

Hoplandrothrips flavipes Bagnall

( Fig. 13 )

Hoplandrothrips flavipes Bagnall, 1923: 628

Described originally from Kenya, this species is frequently intercepted in quarantine in temperate countries and has been seen from many parts of the tropics (Mound & Marullo 1996), including Papua New Guinea, Christmas Island and Timor Leste. Although a typical member of Hoplandrothrips , with the fore wings weakly constricted medially and antennal segment VIII constricted at the base, the presence of four large sensoria on the third antennal segment is an unusual character state shared only with a few species from southern Japan (Okajima 2006). In flavipes these sensoria are particularly stout, and this is similar to some Asian species placed in Ecacanthothrips (Okajima 1983) . The body is largely brown, although the median abdominal segments are sometimes pale; the femora are brown but the tibiae yellow. The chaetotaxy is essentially the same as described above for brunneicinctus . In the male, the fore femora has two stout teeth at the apex, the pronotal anteroangular setae are elongate and capitate, sternite VIII lacks a pore plate, tergal lateral setae S1 and S2 are capitate except that on IX S2 is short and acute. Also, the intermediate seta between S1 and S2 on IX is longer than S2 and about 0.7 as long as S1. This suite of male character states is shared with brunneicinctus .

Specimens examined. Queensland, Mission Beach, Clump Point, 1 male from dead branches, 21.vii.1968; Cairns, Smithfield Conservation Park, 2 female 3 male, from dead Rattan, 2.x.2012; Cape Tribulation, Emmagen Creek, 3 females 1 male from dead leaves, 8.x.2012.

Hoplandrothrips fuscus (Moulton) ( Fig. 10 )

Poecilothrips fuscus Moulton, 1968: 94

First placed in the genus Hoplandrothrips by Mound & Houston (1987), this species was described from one female and one male taken at Perth in 1933. However, it has been found widely across Australia, although usually in low numbers. Specimens have been studied from Western Australia, near Perth and Albany; from South Australia, at Victor Harbour and Kangaroo Island, from NSW, Dalmeny, from ACT near Canberra, and from Southeast Queensland at Dalby. It appears to be associated with dead branches both of Eucalyptus and Acacia species. Contrary to the original illustration, although antennal segment VIII is well separated from segment VII, it is broad at the base with no constriction. There is strong sexual dimorphism, particularly in the length of the postocular setae, and the males share with several species, including quadriconus and xanthocnemis , the presence of specialised reticulate areas on some sternites.

Diagnosis. Both sexes macropterous; body and legs dark brown, antennal segment III yellow in basal half but with transverse shaded area sub-basally; segments IV–VI yellow at base; all major setae pale; fore wings very faintly shaded on basal half. Head longer than wide, slightly constricted behind large eyes, cheeks with one small pair of setae in basal third; postocular setae placed far apart, their lengths in microns in one female, and one small and one large male, 35, 60, 105; maxillary stylets retracted to eyes, close together medially ( Fig. 10 ). Pronotum weakly reticulate; major setae variable, epimerals long and capitate, remaining 4 pairs capitate but sometimes much smaller. Fore tarsus with large tooth, particularly in larger males. Basantra absent; mesopresternum of paired lateral triangles, mesoeusternal margin transverse in female, angulate in male. Mesonotal lateral setae capitate in female, acute in male. Metanotum strongly reticulate, median setae acute, wide apart, on anterior third of sclerite. Fore wing parallel sided with 15–20 duplicated cilia. Pelta broadly bell-shaped with irregular lateral margins; median tergites with row of 4 small setae anterolaterally, one pair of small setae medially near campaniform sensilla; lateral setae S1 and S2 broadly capitate, including on tergite IX. Male sternites III–V with paired areas of specialised reticulation anterolateral to discal setae particularly in large males; sternite VIII with transverse pore plate posteromedially; setae S2 on tergite IX blunt.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 14. Hoplandrothrips from Australia. Head & pronotum 9 – 12: (9) coorongi sp. n.; (10) fuscus; (11) gloriosi sp. n.; (12) howei sp. n. Meso & metanotum, pelta & tergite II, 13 – 14: (13) flavipes; (14) gloriosi sp. n.