Scirtothrips solus, Hoddle, Mark S. & Mound, Laurence A., 2003

Hoddle, Mark S. & Mound, Laurence A., 2003, The genus Scirtothrips in Australia (Insecta, Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 268, pp. 1-40 : 30

Scirtothrips solus sp. nov.

[ Figs 20 , 34 ]

Female macroptera. Colour: Dark brown, head almost black; antecostal ridges on tergites III­VIII dark across full width of segments, on sternites III­VII shaded; forewings uniformly but weakly shaded; antennal segments dark, segments III­V paler near base.

Structure: Head broad across eyes, constricted to base; vertex not closely striate, with striae transversely anastomosing, ocellar region without lines of sculpture; bases of ocellar setae pair III closer together than length of these setae, arising between midpoints of posterior ocelli; two pairs of post­ocular setae approximately as long as ocellar setae pair III; mouth cone long, extending between fore coxae. Antennae with 7 segments. Pronotum with transverse striae irregular and widely separated; with 1 pair of anteromarginal setae, 6­8 discal setae; 4 pairs of posteromarginal setae, S2 about twice length of S1, S3 subequal to S1. Metanotal reticulation almost equiangular, median setae well behind margin. Forewing scale with 3­4 marginal setae; first vein setae 3­4+6­7+1+1+0­1+0­1; second vein with 1 seta; posteromarginal fringe cilia straight. Tergites III­V median setae small and widely spaced, distance between bases at least 3.5 times the length of these setae; tergal microtrichial fields with 3 discal setae; VIII with no discal microtrichia, posteromarginal comb complete; tergite IX with no discal microtrichia. Sternites with lateral microtrichial fields weak, extending mesad of S3 marginal setae, apparently absent on sternite VII.

Measurements of holotype female. Body length 1150. Head, length 100; width 200; p.o. S1 20. Pronotum, length 75; width 180; posteromarginal setae S1 13, S2 25. Forewing length 750. Antennal segments III – VI, 42, 40, 40, 50.

Holotype Female. Western Australia, 10km west of Wave Rock, near Hyden, from Allocasuarina sp. [ Casuarinaceae ], 4.x.1995 (LAM 2896). Paratypes: 4 females collected with holotype; Western Australia, Kalbari, 1 female on Acacia sp. branches, 4.x.1995 (LAM 3797).

Comments. Only one other member of this genus is known with seven segmented antennae. That is S. casuarinae , a species that was also taken on the foliage of a young specimen of the Casuarinaceae . Allocasuarina and Casuarina species are similar xerophytic plants with highly modified “drooping” foliage. This thrips was associated with the young foliage of a small shrubby species.

Figures

FIGURES 11 ­ 20. Scirtothrips heads and pronota. 11, frondis; 12, inermis; 13, kirrhos; 14, longipennis; 15, litotes; 16, moneres; 17, pilbara; 18, tenor; 19, quadriseta; 20, solus.

FIGURES 32 ­ 37. Scirtothrips pro­ meso­ and metanota. 32, pilbara; 33, akakia; 34, solus; 35, helenae; 36, drepanofortis; 37, aurantii male hind leg.