Holopothrips guadeloupensis, Michel & Etienne, 2020

Michel, Bruno & Etienne, Jean, 2020, The genus Holopothrips Hood, 1914 in Guadeloupe with descriptions of two new species (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 4786 (2), pp. 254-260 : 257-259

Holopothrips guadeloupensis sp.n.

( Figs 7–12 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:00F05525-59F3-469E-8833-9241F692ECC7

Female macroptera. Body uniformly brown ( Fig. 7 ). Antennal segment I brown, II brown slightly paler along the middle part, III–VI yellow, VII yellow at base and slightly darker in apical half, VIII light brown. Antennal segment III conical, about 3.2 times as long as wide, with maximum width at 3/4 of its length, regularly narrowed to the base ( Fig. 8 ); antennal segments III and IV each with three sense cones. All femora brown; fore tibia yellow, brown basally; middle and hind tibiae brown, slightly paler apically. Fore and middle tarsi yellow, hind tarsus yellow, lightly shaded with brown ( Fig. 7 ). Fore tarsal hamus not projecting beyond the lateral margin of the tarsus; fore coxa with well-developed seta (cs, Fig. 9 ). Wings well developed, forewing with six to 13 duplicate ciliae. Head about 1.14 times as long as wide ( Fig. 9 ); dorsal surface with transverse lines of sculpture, forming irregular elongate reticles, surface inside ocelli triangle “wavy” and granulose; cheeks parallel. Postocular setae short, with acute apex ( Fig. 9 ). Eyes well developed, but not holoptic. Maxillary stylets retracted to posterior margin of eyes, a little less than one fourth of head width apart, parallel-sided in anterior half ( Fig. 9 ); mouth cone pointed ( Fig. 9 ). Prothorax rectangular to trapezoidal ( Fig. 9 ). Pronotum surface with irregular, faintly indicated reticles and posterior surface with transversally elongate reticles, epimeral surface transversally striated and epimeral suture incomplete ( Fig. 9 ); four pairs of pronotal setae well-developed: aa, ml, epim and pa, all slightly capitate with frayed-like apexes; anteromarginal setae minute to moderately developed. Prosternal basantra absent, ferna well-developed. Anterior region of mesonotum with transverse elongate reticles ( Fig. 10 ). In the posterior half, the reticles become gradually more elongate and the sculpture converges towards the posteromedian suture of the mesonotum; reticles bearing internal markings; one pair of small lateral setae on mesonotum ( Fig. 9 ). Metanotum with four pairs of small discal setae on the anterior half, one pair must be incomplete. Metanotal plate with longitudinal elongate reticles, almost densely striate ( Fig. 10 ), with larger reticles along lateral and posterior limits of sculptured area; internal markings present. Metapleural sutures present. Pelta triangular with blunt tip ( Fig. 10 ), lateral margins irregular; sculpture formed by irregular reticles covering the whole surface, median reticles longitudinally elongate, with internal markings; one pair of posterior campaniform sensilla present ( Fig. 10 ). Tergites II–VII with three pairs of wing-retaining setae. Spermatheca S-shaped and not enlarged ( Fig. 11 ).

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 2472. Head, length 265; width 224; postocular setae 36. Pronotum length 140; median width 296; major setae am 16, aa 53, ml 69, epim 89, pa 89; fore coxal setae 28. Mesonotum lateral setae 27. Antennal segments I–VIII 40, 57, 85, 73, 73, 65, 57, 32, respectively. Tube length 194.

Male macroptera. Similar to female in both coloration and structure. Two anteroangular pore plates and two posterior pore plates on abdominal sternites VI–VII, and two anteroangular pore plates and one posterior transverse pore plate, often briefly interrupted, on sternite VIII. The number of reticles forming the different pore plates is variable, and all reticles bear internal markings ( Fig. 12 ).

Measurements (in microns). Body length 1836–2305. Head, length 214–255; width 194–204; postocular setae 28–36. Pronotum length 109–133; median width 231–255; pronotum major setae am 8–10, aa 20–28, ml 44–57, epim 69–89, pa 65–77; fore coxa setae 24–28. Mesonotum lateral setae 12–26. Antennal segments I–VIII 32–40, 49–53, 73–85, 61–69, 65–69, 53–61, 44–49, 28–32, respectively. Tube length 143–163.

Material examined. Holotype female, GUADELOUPE, Pointe-Noire, Morne-à-Louis, 21.iv.2017, ex rolled leaves of Myrcia fallax (Myrtaceae) in association with Psyllidae (J. Etienne leg.), JBOU 3637.

Paratypes: 7 males, 6 females, same data as holotype, JBOU 3638, JBOU 3639, JBOU 3640, JBOU 3641, JBOU 3642, JBOU 3643, JBOU 3644, JBOU 3645, JBOU 3646, JBOU 3648, JBOU 3649, JBOU 3650, JBOU 3651; 1 male, 1 female, same locality as holotype, 03.iv.2011, ex rolled leaves of Myrcia fallax (Myrtaceae) in association with Psyllidae , (J. Etienne leg.), JBOU 1713, JBOU 1714; 3 males, 1 female same locality as holotype, 15.i.2012, ex rolled leaves of Myrcia fallax (Myrtaceae) in association with Psyllidae (J. Etienne leg.), JBOU 1502, JBOU 1503, JBOU 1504, JBOU 1712.

Etymology. The specific epithet is in reference to the French Department, Guadeloupe.

Distribution. Known only from Guadeloupe.

Comments. Holopothrips guadeloupensis sp.n. is characterized by the combination of the following characters: one epimeral seta, fore tibiae yellow, metanotal plate almost densely striate, with larger reticles bearing internal markings along lateral and posterior limits of sculptured area, spermatheca not enlarged, and reticulated pore plates on sternites VI–VIII of male. It shares some similarities with H. erianthi , as antennal segment III and IV with three sense cones, parallel maxillary stylets retracted to posterior margin of eyes, striate metanotal plate, and reticulate pore plates of male on sternites VII-VIII. However, in the latter species, the metanotal sculpture lacks internal markings, the maxillary stylets are closer to each other, and the abdominal sternites VI and VII of male bear only two anteroangular pore plates.

Figures

FIGURES 7–12. Holopothrips guadeloupensis sp.n. (7) habitus of holotype; (8) antennal segments II and III; (9) head and pronotum (cs = coxal seta); (10) mesonotum, metanotum and pelta; (11) spermatheca; (12) pore plates on abdominal sternites VI–VIII of male.