Azaleothrips atayal, Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014

Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2014, Species-richness in the Oriental fungus-feeding thrips of the genus Azaleothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), Zootaxa 3846 (3), pp. 301-347 : 309-310

Azaleothrips atayal sp.n.

( Figs 6–11 )

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown, prothorax almost as dark as head. Antennal segment III somewhat paler, with basal 1/2 yellowish ( Fig. 7 ); segment IV yellowish at basal 1/4, somewhat paler at apical 1/4; basal neck of segment V somewhat paler. All femora concolorous with body, extreme apices of mid and hind femora yellowish; fore tibiae yellowish, shaded with brown, mid and hind tibiae brown, basal 1/3 and apical 1/4 yellowish. Fore wing weakly shaded, paler at basal 1/5 and median constriction.

Head ( Fig. 6 ) almost as long as wide, or a little longer; dorsal surface entirely reticulate, reticles situated near compound eyes with inner wrinkles, but rather smooth among reticles on middorsal and posterior portions. Postocular setae longer than half the length of compound eyes. Antennal segment VIII distinct from segment VII ( Fig. 8 ); segment IV a little longer than segment III; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 9 ) distinctly reticulate, but not tuberculate, with 22–24 short setae; anteromarginal and posteromarginal setae well developed, 30–34 microns in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 10 ) with very small dentate microtrichia or tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 10 ) longitudinally reticulate, inner markings weak, anterior half usually with 4 (= two pairs) short setae (often aberrantly 3 or 5). Fore tarsus with a tooth. Fore wing with 9/9 duplicated cilia in holotype; basal wing setae S1 well developed, almost as long as S3. Pelta distinctly reticulate. Sculpture on abdominal tergites distinct. S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX almost as long as half the length of tube; S2 setae on tergite IX expanded at apex. Tube about 0.7 times as long as head. Anal setae almost as long as tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 2100. Head length 208, width across cheeks 200. Pronotum length 134, width 233. Fore wing length about 800. Tube length 150, width across base 59. Antenna length about 420, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 60 (35), 62 (32), 59 (29), 53 (27), 40 (25), 27 (13). Postocular setae about 40. S1 setae on tergite IX 75, S2 setae on tergite IX 80 –85. Anal setae about 150.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Abdominal segment VIII yellowish. Abdominal sternites VII and VIII with distinct polygonal reticulations; pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, narrow and usually situated on posterior half of sternite ( Fig. 11 ). S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length 2030. Head length 208, width across cheeks 183. Pronotum length 130, width 232. Fore wing length about 850. Tube length 152, width across base 60. Antenna length about 420, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 63 (33), 63 (32), 61 (30), 54 (26), 42 (24), 28 (12). Postocular setae 40. S1 setae on tergite IX 60 –70, S2 setae on tergite IX 42 –47. Anal setae 150.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Taiwan, Taoyuan Hsien, Mt. Lala shan, on dead leaves and branches, 19.viii.1993 (TN & SO).

Paratypes: Taiwan, 3 females and 2 males, collected with holotype; Nantou Hsien, Meifeng, alt. about 2000m, 1 male, 28.iii.1984 (SO), 1 male, 2.ix.1993, 2 females, 1.ix.1994 (TN & SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group. It has been taken from mountainous areas (about 2000m alt.) in Taiwan, and may be related to formosae which has been taken from lowlands (sea level to 800m alt.) in Taiwan. It can be distinguished from formosae by the shaded antennal segment III ( Fig. 7 ), dark pronotum and fore legs, and distinctly sculptured abdominal tergites.

The specific name is derived from one of the Taiwanese aborigines “ Atayal ”. The distribution of the tribe has overlapped with this species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Azaleothrips species. apoensis sp. n. female 1 – 5: (1) head; (2) antennal segments VII and VIII; (3) pronotum; (4) meso & metanotum; (5) tergites VIII & IX. atayal sp. n. 6 – 11: (6) head, female; (7) antennal segments III & IV, female; (8) antennal segments VII & VIII, female; (9) pronotum, female; (10) meso & metanotum, female; (11) sternite VIII, male.