Mesandrothrips pictipes (Bagnall) 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 : 338-339

Mesandrothrips pictipes (Bagnall) comb.n.

( Figs 16 , 24)

Haplothrips pictipes Bagnall 1919: 273

Xylaplothrips pictipes (Bagnall) ; Pitkin, 1976: 274.

Described from a few females taken on diseased coffee berries in southern India, this species is here recorded widely but infrequently across Southeast Asia. There is no evidence that it is associated with galls. One series was reared from the dry fruits of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa from Hong Kong, and isolated individuals have been beaten from dead branches and various live plants. Males sometimes have enlarged fore legs and fore tarsal teeth, but small males and females usually have the fore tarsal tooth very small. Several specimens of both sexes were taken in rainforest in Sarawak from various plants and dead branches, but amongst these were a few much larger indi- viduals. These large specimens, of both sexes, have variably enlarged fore femora, fore tarsi with a well-developed tooth, and in many the fore tibiae bears a tubercle on the inner margin distal third. This tubercle varies in size, and even in presence, among these specimens, and there is no evidence from any other body structure that these large individuals represent a different species. From various sites in eastern and southern Australia further specimens that are closely similar to pictipes in structure have been seen, but these have rather shorter pronotal setae, and tergite IX setae S1 capitate.

Female macroptera. Head with maxillary stylets wide apart ( Fig. 24 ), retracted to postocular setae. Pronotum with 5 pairs of capitate setae, epimeral setae longest. Fore wing sub-basal setae all capitate, S3 usually longer than S2 and S1; with about 6 duplicated cilia. Mesopresternum entire. Tergite IX setae S1 bluntly pointed. Tube slender, 2.5 times as long as basal width, and about 0.7 as long as head.

Material studied. Lectotype female, India, Malabar, ix.2018 ( BMNH); India, Kallar , 1 female from dead lvs, x.2005. Hong Kong, 3 females, 2 males, reared (in Florida, USA) from dried fruits of Rhodomyrtus tormen- tosa, xi.2015. Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 1 female from Shorea fls, iv.1976; 1 female from Xanthophyllum flowers, 8.vii.2006, 1 male from Polyscias lvs, iv.2008. Sarawak, Tamu Abu , HoB Expedition , 15 females, 9 males from various plants and dead branches, 16-23.viii.2017. Timor Leste , 5 females, 6 males from various weeds and dead branches, viii.2018. Australia, Queensland, Badu ls., 1 female from Carica papaya , xi.2000 (in ANIC).

Figures

FIGURES 9–18. Mesandrothrips species.Antennae 9–14: (9) austrosteensia; (10) clavipes; (11) googongi; (12) inquilinus; (13) kurandae; (14) lamingtoni; (15) oleariae; (16) pictipes. (17) googongi male aedeagus. (18) darci antennal segments II–V.

FIGURES 19–25. Mesandrothrips species. austrosteensia 19–20: (19) head & pronotum; (20) meso & metanota, pelta and tergite II. (21) googongi head & pronotum. (22) lamingtoni head & pronotum. (23) oleariae head & pronotum. (24) pictipes head, thorax & pelta. (25) kurandae pronotum.