Psalidothrips cecryphalus, Wang & Mound & Tree, 2019

Wang, Jun, Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2019, Leaf-litter thrips of the genus Psalidothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) from Australia, with fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4686 (1), pp. 53-73 : 58-59

Psalidothrips cecryphalus sp.n.

( Figs 4 , 24, 32 )

Female aptera. Body brownish yellow, head and abdomen darkest, thorax brown laterally; legs and antennae yellow.Head with weak but distinct polygonal reticulation between eyes, posterior third of head with transverse reticulation; genae constricted behind eyes, compound eyes with about three facets; ocelli absent; postocular setae acute, much longer than half the distance between their bases; postocellar setae pointed, as long as distance between their bases ( Fig. 4 ). Antennal segment III with 0, 1 or 2 sense cones, IV with 2 sense cones, III–VII each with pedicel, VIII narrowed to base; segment III longer than IV, VIII longer than VII ( Fig. 32 ). Maxillary stylets wide apart, retracted almost to postocular setae. Pronotum without sculpture or median longitudinal line; setae ml, epim and pa long and pointed, aa and am longer than discal setae. Mesonotum with weak reticulation. Metanotum not sculptured. Fore tarsal tooth absent. Mesopresternum almost absent, mesoeusternal anterior margin entire. Pelta weakly sculptured, broadly D-shaped extending across half of tergite II; tergites II–VII with one pair of short straight wing-retaining setae; median setae on II–V shorter than median length of their tergite, but much longer on VI–VIII; tergite IX setae S1 longer tube, anal setae as long as tube. Sternal discal setae small, only two pairs present.

Measurements (holotype female aptera in microns). Body length 1856. Head, length 153; width 158; postocular setae 104, distance between their bases 122; postocellar setae 70, distance between their bases 68. Pronotum, length 139; median width 250; major setae am 37, aa 51, ml 102, epim 116, pa 168. Mesonotum posteromarginal setae 37. Metanotum median setae 68. Tergite IV median marginal setae140; tergite VIII median setae 80, tergite IX setae S1 184, S2 170. Tube length 150; anal setae 151. Antennal segments III–VIII length 44, 37, 36, 44, 39, 43.

Female macroptera. Head and thorax brown, abdomen yellowish brown with tergites VIII–IX and base of tube darker; legs yellowish brown; antennae light brown III pale at base. Mesoeusternum anterior margin concave but not eroded. Fore wing with two long sub-basal setae. Tergites II–VII with one pair of short straight wing-retaining setae; median tergal setae on II–VI not as long as their tergites, much longer on VII–VIII.

Measurements (in microns). Body length 1938. Head, length 162; width 150; postocular setae 92, postocellar setae 51. Pronotum, length 121; median width 235; major setae am 34, aa 36, ml 94, epim 133, pa 133. Fore wing sub-basal setae, outer 94, inner 53. Tergite VIII median setae 85. Tergite IX setae S1 187, S2 187. Tube length 153; anal setae 155. Antennal segments III–VIII length 43, 36, 43, 44, 36, 47.

Male aptera. Similar to female; pelta slightly eroded; fore tarsal tooth varies with body size; sternite VIII with transverse pore plate, extending to lateral margins of sternite ( Fig. 24 ).

Measurements (in microns). Body length 1306. Head, length 124; width 119; postocular setae 131, postocellar setae 26. Pronotum, length 102; median width 182; major setae am 22, aa 25, ml 78, epim 85, pa 84. Tergite VIII median setae 63, tergite IX setae S1 128, S2 80. Tube length 104; anal setae 192. Antennal segments III–VIII length 34, 26, 31, 31, 29, 36.

Specimens studied. Holotype female aptera, New South Wales, Hawksbury Sandstone, Ettalong Lookout , from Eucalyptus leaf litter, 28.vi.1968 ( LAM 705 ), in ANIC.

Paratypes (apterae except where noted): collected with holotype 17 females, 7 males, 2 female macropterae . New South Wales, Trangie , 1 male from leaf litter, 8.iii.1968 ( LAM) . Australian Capital Territory, Woods Reserve , 6 females, 6 males from Acacia melanoxylon litter, 20–21.iv.2016 ; Oakey Hill , 4 females, 5 males, 1 female macroptera from Eucalyptus litter, 18–19.iv.2016 ; Mt. Ainslie , 1 female in litter, 27.xi.1969 . Victoria, Grampians, Lake Belfield , 4 females, 1 male from leaf litter, 6.ii.1978 . South Australia, Aldinga Reserve , 1 female from leaf litter, 13.vi.1977 . Tasmania, Trenah and Kamona , 10 females, 7 males, 1 female macroptera from Eucalyptus and Pinus litter, 2.vii.1974 . Western Australia, Dwellingup , 4 females, 6 males from litter, 15.iv.1981 .

Comments. This species is unusual in having weak, net-like polygonal reticulation anteriorly on the head, between the eyes, although in some individuals this is scarcely visible. In general appearance it is similar to taylori , but the males have a fore tarsal tooth and sternite VIII has a complete transverse pore plate. These two species have been taken together in ACT, and the females can be difficult to distinguish from each other.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Psalidothrips species, head & pronotum. (1) bipictus; (2) brittoni macropterous female; (3) brittoni apterous male; (4) cecryphalus holotype; (5) howei; (6) driesseni male; (7) gloriousi; (8) daguilari; (9) greensladeae.

FIGURES 19–37. Psalidothrips species. Mesopresternum 19–22 (19) gloriousi; (20) driesseni macroptera; (21) driesseni aptera; (22) howei. Male pore plate 23–30 (23) brittoni; (24) cecryphalus; (25) driesseni; (26) howei; (27) minantennus; (28) postlei; (29) taylori; (30) tritus. Antennae 31–37 (31) brittoni; (32) cecryphalus; (33) minantennus; (34) platetus; (35) trivius; (36) verus; (37) wellsae.