Eremiothrips eshghii, Minaei, 2014

Minaei, Kambiz, 2014, A new species of Eremiothrips from Iran (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 54 (1), pp. 29-34 : 30-33

Eremiothrips eshghii sp. nov.

( Figs 1–8 )

Type locality. Iran, Fars province, Eghlid, Emamzadeh Esmaeil (N 30°08'403″, E 52°38'677″).

Type material. HOLOTYPE: ♀, ‘ IRAN, Fars province, Eghlid / Emamzadeh Esmaeil , from Ephedra sp., 1660 m alt. / N 30° 8' 403″, E 52° 38' 677″ / 7.viii. 2013 ( KM1085 ) ( BMNH) . PARATYPES: 16 ♀♀ 3 33, same label data (1 3 1♀ in ANIC, rest in Department of Plant Protection, Shiraz University).

Diagnosis. Eremiothrips species usually have one pair of pronotal posteroangular setae, but the new species together with E. efflatouni are exceptions in that they have no long setae on the pronotum. Moreover, both E. efflatouni and E. eshghii sp. nov. have a comb of microtrichia developed on the posterior margin of tergite VIII. Male tergite IX bears two processes that are barbed laterally and this condition is also unique among Eremiothrips species. So it seems likely that these two species are closely related. However, the antennae in E. efflatouni have 8 segments in contrast to E. eshghii that has antennae with 9 segments, as do most other species in the genus. Moreover, in the male sex, the sternites have no pore plates in E. efflatouni whereas sternites IV–VII bear an oval transverse pore plate in the new species. Neither sex of E. eshghii has any dark abdominal spots, but in E. efflatouni (at least in the female) tergites III–VII have two brown spots laterally that are sometimes confluent ( BHATTI et al. 2003).

Description. Female (macropterous). Body pale yellowish; antennal segments III–V shaded at margins, IV–V brownish yellow distally, VI–IX yellowish brown ( Fig. 5 ); pronotum with dark spot in the middle, setae on head pale, other setae light brown; fore wing including clavus uniformly pale. Head broader than long ( Fig. 1 ), slightly overhanging antennal segment I, compound eyes with 6 pigmented facets ventrally, arranged in 3 rows; 3 pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III in front of hind ocelli within triangle, about as long as ocellar setae I and II; 4–5 pairs of postocular setae, all setae on head short; maxillary palps 3-segmented. Antennae 9-segmented ( Fig. 5 ), segment I without median dorsal apical setae, III and IV with weak microtrichia and forked sensoria; segment V with inner sensorium conspicuous, longer than apical width of segment, VI without pedicel ( Fig. 6 ).

Pronotum weakly transversely striate, with no long setae ( Fig. 1 ) (sometimes with inner pair of posteroangular setae longer than remaining setae, about 14 microns), about 30 discal setae present; anterior margin with 3–4 pairs of setae, posterior margin with 4 pairs of setae scarcely longer than discal setae, basantra membranous, without setae, ferna divided into two halves, not connected. Mesonotum with transverse lines, campaniform sensilla inconspicuous ( Fig. 2 ). Mesosternal anterior margin with about 10 setae; mesoacrotergite with 4 pairs of microsetae. Metanotal sculpture longitudinally linear on anterior half, median setae well behind anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent ( Fig. 2 ); mesothoracic sternopleural suture present; spinula present on mesosternum, absent on metasternum ( Fig. 3 ). Tarsi 2-segmented. Fore wing slender with posterior cilia wavy; first vein with 7–9 setae on basal half and 3 widely spaced setae on distal half, second vein with 8–9 widely spaced setae; clavus with 4–5 veinal and 1 discal seta.

Abdominal tergites weakly sculptured medially, without ctenidia or craspeda; tergite II without lateral marginal setae; tergal campaniform sensilla posterolateral to median setae, near posterior margin; posteromarginal comb on VIII complete, surface with faint transverse reticulation, median campaniform sensilla situated between S1 seta and posterior margin, closer to the posterior margin; tergite VIII setae S1 a little longer than setae S2, tergite IX median dorsal setae not extending to posterior margin of tergite, and with two pairs of campaniform sensilla near the margin, setae S2 slightly longer than S1 ( Fig. 4 ); tergite X with dorsal split short; ovipositor developed. Sternites without discal setae or marginal craspedum, II with 2 pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with 3 pairs; pleurotergites with no discal setae.

Measurements (holotype female, in µm). Body length 1273. Head length 100; width across eyes 138. Pronotum, length 113; maximum width 172. Fore wing length 574. Metanotal median setae 20. Tergite VIII setae S1 28, S2 21; tergite IX setae S1 52, S2 63. Antennal segments III–IX length: 32, 31, 31, 35, 12, 11, 17.

Male (macropterous). Similar to female in colour and structure but smaller, with transverse pore plate on discal area of sternites IV–VII ( Fig. 7 ); abdominal tergum VIII without comb on posterior margin, IX at posterior margin with two long, biserially toothed processes ( Fig. 8 ).

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1000. Head length 87; width across eyes 120. Pronotum, length 116; maximum width 135. Fore wing length 470. Metanotal median setae 20. Sternites IV–VII pore plates 27 width (w), 12 length (l); 29 w, 13 l; 30 w, 11 l; 31 w, 9 l. Antennal segments III–VIII length 33, 33, 31, 41, 6, 13.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Dr. Saeid Eshghi, Associate Professor of Horticultural Sciences, Shiraz University who has helped me in identification of many plant materials for several years as well as in collecting the new species in this paper.

Bionomics. The new species was collected on Ephedra sp in wild almond woodlands in south of Iran.

Distribution. Iran, Fars province.

Figures

Figs 1–8. Eremiothrips eshghii sp. nov. 1–6 – female: 1 – head and pronotum; 2 – mesonotum and metanotum; 3 – meso- and metasternum; 4 – tergites VIII–X; 5 – antenna; 6 – antennal segments V–IX. 7–8 – male: 7 – sternites IV–VII; 8 – tergite IX.