Astrothrips aucubae Kurosawa, 1932

Li, Yajin, Mound, Laurence A., Xie, Yanlan & Zhang, Hongrui, 2021, Species of Astrothrips from China, with one new species and a list of plant associations (Thysanoptera, Panchaetothripinae), Zootaxa 4920 (2), pp. 267-277 : 270

Astrothrips aucubae Kurosawa

( Figs 9 , 19, 20 )

Kurosawa (1932) described this species from near Tokyo, Japan based on six females from Aucuba japonica . Wilson (1975) examined the type specimens, but the only slide labelled as a male contained only a crushed head. The male of this species is therefore described here for the first time. It is similar to the female in having a simple sense cone on each of antennal segments III–IV. Kurosawa interpreted the original specimens as having only five segments, but the illustration he provided is remarkably similar to the drawing of the antenna of aucubae by Kudo (1992) who interpreted this species as having six (and rarely seven) antennal segments. Wilson (1975) states that aucubae has seven antennal segments. In the specimens listed below from China the base of antennal segment VI is clearly narrower than the apex of segment V. However, the suture medially across segment VI varies from complete (thus producing a 7-segmented condition) to incomplete or even absence. However, specimens showing this variation are sometimes taken together, and one female has been studied with seven segments on one antenna but six on the other.

Male macroptera. Smaller and paler than the female; head and pronotum brown, mesonotum, metanotum and abdominal segment I dark brown, segments II–X golden yellow. Antennal segments III–IV with sense cone simple; abdominal tergite IX with three pairs of setae not in a transverse row; sternites without pore plate.

Material studied. CHINA, Yunnan Province. Xishuangbanna, Nabanhe National Nature Reserve , 9 females, 1 male from Ipomoea batatas , 3 females, 1 female from Poaceae , 1 male from Ricinus communis , 2 females from Alchornea , 10.iii.2017 ( Zhang Hong-rui ) ; 4 females from Fabaceae , 2 females from Canarium pimela , 22.x.2017 (Zhang Hong-rui); Xishuangbanna tropical botanical garden , 2 females from Pronephrium sp., 2 females from Aporusa sp., 10.iii.2017 ( Zhang Hong-rui ) ; 4 females from Acalypha wilkesiana , 1 male from Cordyline fruticosa , 2.viii.2018 (Hui Liu); Mengla County, Bubeng Village , 2 females from Pueraria , 27.v.2018 ( Li Ya-jin ) ; 2 females from Theaceae , 10-15.iv.1987 (Zhang Weiqiu). Simao , 1 female from Cinnamomum camphora , 10.iv.1987 ( Zhang Weiqiu ) ( ANIC) . Wenshan, Malipo County , 4 females from Eupatorium adenophora , 21.v.2018; 3 females from Brucea javanica , 20.v.2018 (Liu Hui); Xihua Park , 3 females from Glochidion hirsutum , 19.v.2018; Yanshan County , 1 female from Lindera aggregata , 22.v.2018; Ma guan county , 1 female from Corylus heterophylla , 20.v.2018; Xichou County , 1 female from Dodonaea viscosa , 21.v.2018 (Li Ya-jin). Yuxi City, Tianzi Mt ., 2 females from Acronychia pedunculata , 12.v.2017 (Li Ya-jin). Honghe, Puxiong forest , 2 females from Caryota maxima , 21.v.2017; Pingbian Dawei Mt ., 1 female from Laurocerasus zippeliana , 13.x.2017. Pu 'er City, Meizihe Park , 1 female from Miscanthus floridulus , 5.viii.2018 ( Li Ya-jin ) . Guizhou Province, Zheng’an County, Yangxi Town , 2 females from Rhus chinensis , 2 females from Amorphophallus sp., 15.viii.2016 (Yan Xue-qiang); Nine channel water Forest Park , 2 females from Sechium edule , 17.viii.2016 (Yan Xue-qiang). Liupanshui City , Weishe County , 2 females from Lithocarpus corneus , 11.ix.2017 (Kong Bo). Danzhai County, Cat nose ridge Forest Park , 2 females from Brassica rapa , 23.viii.2016 ( Yan Xue-qiang ) , 1 female from Litsea pungens , 3 females from Stachyurus chinensis , 5.viii.2017 (Li Yajin). Anlong County, Xianheping National Forest Park , 2 females from Tephrosia candida , 3 females from Alangium chinense , 31.viii.2016 ( Yan Xue-qiang ) ; 1 female from Viburnum chinshanense , 1 female from Paliurus hemsleyanus , 1 female from Globba racemosa , 10.ix.2017 ( Li Ya-jin ) ; 1 female from Lindera megaphylla , 1 female from Helicia reticulata , 1 female from Fallopia multiflora , 10.ix.2017 (Kong Bo). Fanjing Mt Reserve , 1 female from Ampelopsis cantoniensis , 2 females from Aristolochia kaempferi , 10.viii.2017 (Zhang Hong-rui). Xingyi City, Wan feng lin , 1 female from Mallotus barbatus , 9.ix.2017 (Li Ya-jin); Xingyi , 1 female from Kadsura caulis , 18.viii.2018 ( Li Yajin ) ( ANIC) . Hainan Province, Jianfengling, 1 female from Brucea javanica , 27.vi.2018 ( Xie Yanlan ) ( ANIC) .

Figures

FIGURES 9–16. Head and pronotum of Astrothrips species. (9) aucubae; (10) globiceps; (11) chisinliaoensis (12) strasseni; (13) tumiceps; (14) Pronotum of glanduculus (variant); (15) glanduculus; (16) asiaticus.

FIGURES 17–26. Astrothrips species. 17–18, 20–22. Meso-metanotum of Astrothrips species (17) strasseni; (18) chisinliaoensis; (19) Antennae of aucubae; (20) aucubae; (21) tumiceps; (22) glanduculus; (23) Fore wing of glanduculus; 24–26 Antennae of Astrothrips species (24) glanduculus; (25) chisinliaoensis; (26) strasseni.