Xylaplothrips anarsius, Mound & Tree, 2019

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, Desley J., 2019, Rediagnoses of the Asian genera Xylaplothrips and Mesandrothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae, Haplothripini), with keys to Australian species, Zootaxa 4613 (2), pp. 327-341 : 330

Xylaplothrips anarsius sp.n.

( Figs 1–4 )

Female macroptera. Head longer than wide ( Fig. 1 ), broadest across cheeks behind eyes and narrowing to base; postocular setae capitate, placed lateral to mid-point of eyes; maxillary stylets retracted to eyes, close together medially; mouth cone pointed but not extending between fore coxae, maxillary palps small ( Fig. 4 ). Antennae 8- segmented ( Fig. 2 ), III and IV each with 2 short stout sense cones, IV also with one small dorsal sense cone; VIII slender and constricted to basal pedicel. Pronotum with 5 pairs of capitate setae, surface weakly sculptured, epimeral sutures complete ( Fig. 1 ). Fore femoral inner margin swollen, fore tibia stout with pointed tubercle at inner apex; fore tarsus stout. Mesonotal lateral setae small. Metanotum with 4 or 5 small setae on anterior half ( Fig. 3 ), median setae finely pointed on posterior half of sclerite. Mesopresternum eroded to pair of lateral triangles ( Fig. 4 ); metathoracic sternopleural sutures not developed. Fore wing weakly constricted medially, without duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae capitate and unusually small. Hind tibiae without stout setae. Pelta broadly D-shaped ( Fig. 3 ); tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, major lateral setae capitate, except S2 on VII finely pointed; tergites II–VII with median setal pair long and finely pointed ( Fig. 3 ); tergite IX S1 setae capitate and shorter than tube, S2 long and finely pointed. Tube shorter than head.

Measurements (holotype in microns). Body length 2000. Head, length 225; width 160; postocular setae 45. Pronotum, length 160; width 240; major setae: am 40, aa 30, ml 30, epim 40, pa 35. Fore wing length, 730; subbasal setae 20, 18, 15. Tergite II median setae 45; IV posteromarginal setae S1 75, S2 60; VII posteromarginal setae S1 75, S2 110. Tergite IX setae S1 80; S2 125. Tube length 130.Antennal segments III–VIII length 55, 55, 55, 50, 50, 30.

Material studied. Holotype female, AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH WALES, Narooma , 1 0km west, from Eucalyptus nuts, 24.xii.2010 ( LAM 5407 ), in ANIC.

Comments. This remarkable Haplothripini species is based on a single specimen. In this Tribe it shares only with members of Xylaplothrips the unusual presence of only two major sense cones on each of the third and fourth antennal segments. It differs from all members of the genus in having the maxillary stylets retracted to the eyes and close together medially in the head, in bearing a tooth at the inner apex of the fore tibiae, and in having several small setae on the anterior half of the metanotum. As indicated by the species name, it is not closely related to the other known members of this genus. It resembles species of Dolichothrips and Mesothrips in having a long mouth cone, and the mesopresternum reduced to a pair of triangles. But as a species of Haplothripini with two sense cones on antennal segments III and IV it is here placed in Xylaplothrips until such time as the Phlaeothripinae fauna of Australia is more extensively explored.

Figures

FIGURES 1–8. Xylaplothrips and Mesandrothrips. X. anarsius 1–4: (1) head & pronotum; (2) antenna; (3) meso & metanota, pelta and tergite II; (4) prosternum. (5) M. austrosteensia fore leg. (6) M. darci, prosternum. (7) M. googongi prosternum. (8) M. clavipes prosternum.