Mycterothrips chaetogastra (Ramakrishna)

Okajima, Masami Masumoto And Shûji, 2006, A revision of and key to the world species of Mycterothrips Trybom (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 1261 (1261), pp. 1-90 : 33-35

Mycterothrips chaetogastra (Ramakrishna)

( Figs. 41–50)

Taeniothrips chaetogastra Ramakrishna, 1934: 494–495 .

Mycterothrips chaetogastra (Ramakrishna) ; Bhatti, 1990b: 242.

Diagnosis. Body almost uniformly yellowish brown, abdominal terga slightly dark anteromedially and near anterior margin at each side. Antennal segment II with some rows of microtrichia ( Fig. 41). Pronotum with about 45 stout discal setae; anterior marginal setae subequal in length to discal setae, median pair slightly longer. Mesonotum without CPS anteromedially; median pair of setae near posterior margin ( Fig. 42). Metascutum weakly sculptured with longitudinally anastomosing striae medially; median pair of setae near anterior margin ( Fig. 42). Abdominal terga with numerous ciliate microtrichia on lines of sculpture, smooth medially ( Fig. 43); tergum II with four lateral marginal setae irregularly arranged on one side in specimen studied, and with a few lines of sculpture in front of antecostal line at middle ( Fig. 43); tergum VIII with B4 setae minute; tergum IX with only posterior pair of CPS; sterna II to VI with 9–11setae at posterior margin, and some discal setae near posterior margin in some sterna ( Fig. 44); sternum VII with two discal setae at middle of sternum ( Fig. 45). Male has antennal segment VI much longer than that of female with numerous long setae and without microtrichia ( Fig. 47). Pronotum with more than 20 discal setae ( Fig. 46). Metascutum weakly sculptured longitudinally ( Fig. 48). Abdominal terga with microtrichia fewer than in female ( Fig. 49); tergum II with four lateral marginal setae in a line at right side although with three setae on left side in specimen studied; tergum VII to VIII with B4 setae minute, B4 setae not minute in tergum VI ( Fig. 49); tergum IX with a pair of CPS near B1 setae, SB1 setae absent ( Fig. 50); sternum III to VIII with three pairs of posteromarginal setae and 2–7 discal setae. Hypomere expanded at apex.

Specimens examined. India: 1 female, Coimbatore, 30­vi­1973, Persian Nim, J. S. Bhatti (Sakimura's Coll. in BPM) . 1 male, 1973, Coimbatore, 29­vi­1973, Azadirachta indica, J. S. Bhatti ( BHC) .

Comments. This species can be distinguished easily from other members by the unusually large number of setae on the posterior margins of the abdominal sterna. The male was not known hitherto, but the present authors studied one male specimen collected from the type locality and plant listed above through the courtesy of Dr. Bhatti ( India) .