Minaeithrips aliceae, Mound, Laurence A., 2007

Mound, Laurence A., 2007, New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 1604, pp. 53-68 : 61

Minaeithrips aliceae sp.n.

( Figs 11, 12, 16 )

Apterous female. Colour brown, distal antennal segments and tube darkest, antennal III pedicel yellowish. Head with cheeks convex; eyes slightly angular, about 12 ommatidia on dorsal surface and 5 ventrally; postocular setae acute, shorter than eye width; one pair of minute interocular setae, vertex without setae medially ( Fig. 11 ). Antennal segment III with no sensoria, pedicel slender and parallel sided; segments IV–VII each sharply constricted to a basal pedicel ( Fig. 16 ). Pronotal major setae small to minute. Thoracic sternites extensively eroded. Meso and metanota apparently fused but with complete transverse ridge indicating suture position. Pelta weakly reticulate anteromedially. Tergite IX setae pointed, S3 finely acute.

Measurements of holotype female in microns. Body length 1450. Head, length 150; width 155; postocular setae 25. Pronotum, length 95; width 160; major setae am 5, aa 15, ml 5, epim 20, pa 15. Metanotal median setae 15. Tergite IX setae S1 40, S2 65, S3 120. Tube, length 70; anal setae 75. Antennal segments III– VII+VIII length, 45, 35, 40, 40, 70.

Material studied. Holotype female, Australian Capital Territory, Black Mountain, from dead Acacia twigs, 13.iv.2006 (LAM 4892).

Paratypes: 2 females, 1 male taken with holotype; 2 females at same site from dead branches, 5.iv.2006 (Kambiz Minaei); 4 females, 5 males, at same site from dead branches, 14.iii.2006 (Shuji Okajima); 1 female at same site, 9.iv.1995; 2 females, 2 males at same site, from dead branches, 7.iv.2007 (Alice Wells). South Australia, Whyalla, Middleback, 1 male from dead Acacia , 3.v.1995 (LAM 2667).

Comments. This minute thrips has been taken several times from dead twigs, in association with several more common fungus-feeding species, such as Strepterothrips tuberculatus (Girault) , Idolothrips spectrum Haliday and Carientothrips mjobergi (Karny) .

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 18. Minaeithrips and Priesneriella. 11, M. aliceae head; 12, M. aliceae, Tergite IX and tube; 13, M. driesseni, Head; 14, M. driesseni, Tergite IX and tube; 15, M. driesseni, Prosternites; 16, M. aliceae, Antenna; 17, M. driess-