Azaleothrips formosae, 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 : 320-322

Azaleothrips formosae sp.n.

( Figs 50–53 )

Female macroptera. Body brown to dark brown, prothorax, posterior 1/3 of metanotum and pelta a little paler; abdominal segment VIII somewhat yellowish; tube yellowish at base. Antennal segment III ( Fig. 52 ) entirely yellow (often very weakly shaded); basal neck of segment IV yellowish. Fore coxae brown; fore femora brown or yellowish brown, almost concolorous with prothorax, usually paler than mid and hind femora, paler at apex; mid and hind femora brown to dark brown, concolorous with body, mid femora yellowish in distal 1/4–1/3, hind femora yellowish in distal 1/6–1/5; all tibiae yellowish, shaded with brown at middle. Fore wing shaded with brown, paler at basal 1/5 and median constriction.

Head ( Fig. 50 ) slightly longer than wide, 1.1 times as long as wide in holotype; dorsal surface entirely reticulate, reticles situated near compound eyes with inner wrinkles, but smooth among reticles on middorsal and posterior portions. Postocular setae longer than half the length of compound eyes. Antennal segments VIII distinct from segment VII; segment VII + VIII slender, a little longer than segment III; segment IV almost as long as segment III, or a little longer, almost twice as long as wide; segment III with three (1 + 2), segment IV with four sensoria. Pronotum ( Fig. 51 ) distinctly sculptured with lines of reticles, not tuberculate; with 23 short setae in holotype; anteromarginal and posteromarginal setae well developed, 34–38 microns in holotype. Basantra absent. Mesonotum ( Fig. 53 ) with very small dentate microtrichia or tubercles along transverse lines of sculpture, almost smooth among lines. Metanotum ( Fig. 53 ) longitudinally reticulate, inner marking very weak, anterior half usually with 4 (= two pairs) short setae (often aberrantly 3 or 5). Fore tarsus with a tooth. Fore wing with 9/10 duplicated cilia in holotype; basal wing setae S1 shorter than S3. Pelta usually distinctly reticulate. S1 setae on abdominal tergite IX much longer than half the length of tube; S2 setae on tergite IX expanded at apex. Tube about two-thirds as long as head. Anal setae almost as long as tube, or a little longer.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Distended body length 2375. Head length 230, width across cheeks 211. Pronotum length 150, width 270. Fore wing length 870. Tube length 153, width across base 65. Antenna length about 450, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 73 (37), 75 (37), 67 (30), 60 (27), 47 (25), 32 (14). Postocular setae about 50. S1 setae on tergite IX 83 –85, S2 setae on tergite IX 100–102. Anal setae 160.

Male macroptera. Color and structure very similar to female. Color usually paler than female, prothorax and fore femora yellowish, weakly shaded with brown, all tibiae yellowish, fore tibiae often weakly shaded with brown; abdominal segments III to VIII usually paler than those of female. Structure very similar to female, pore plate on abdominal sternite VIII distinct, but narrow. S2 setae on abdominal tergite IX pointed at apex.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Distended body length 1700. Head length 190, width across cheeks 173. Pronotum length 112, width 218. Fore wing length 680. Tube length 117, width across base 53. Antenna length about 390, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 58 (32), 58 (28), 57 (25), 53 (23), 40 (20), 27 (12). Postocular setae 42–44. S1 setae on tergite IX 66, S2 setae on tergite IX 42 –44. Anal setae 120.

Specimens examined. Holotype female macroptera: Taiwan, Nantou Hsien, Nanshanchi, on dead branches, 29.iii.1984 (SO).

Paratypes: Taiwan, 3 females and 3 males, collected with holotype; data very similar to holotype, 4 females and 1 male, 24.iii.1984, 4 females and 1 male, 25.iii.1984, 1 female and 1 male, 27.iii.1984, 10 females and 6 males, 30.iii.1984; same locality as holotype, 1 female, on dead leaves and branches, 29.viii.1993 (TN & SO); 2 females and 1 male, Nantou Hsien, foot of Mt. Nankao, nr. Wanta, 1.iv.1984 (SO); Chiai Hsien, Kuantzulin, on dead leaves and branches, 1 female and 3 males, 1.iv.1993, 1 male, 2.iv.1993 (TN & SO).

Non-paratypic specimens: Taiwan, Pintung Hsien, Kenting National Park, on dead leaves or branches, 1 female and 3 males, 18.iii.1984, 5 females and 3 males, 19.iii.1984 (SO); 2 females and 2 males, Kaohsiung Hsien, Liukuei, on dead leaves and branches, 4.ix.1993 (TN); 6 females and 3 males, Taitung Hsien, Chihpen, on dead wood, 10.ix.1993 (TN & SO); 3 females, Nantou Hsien, Jiuyuentan (Sun Moon Lake), on dead branches with leaves, 31.iii.1984 (SO); 1 male, Taipei Hsien, Mt. Tatung shan, on dead branches, 4.iv.1984 (SO).

Remarks. This species belongs to the amabilis group, and is somewhat similar to atayal described above also from Taiwan. The differences between them are discussed under atayal . In the non-paratypic specimens, 6 females and 6 males, taken from Kenting National Park, have the prothorax, fore legs and posterior half of metathorax largely yellowish, although morphological structure is very similar to the type-series. Moreover, specimens taken from Liukuei, Chihpen and Jiuyuentan have the body color somewhat intermediate. Therefore, these specimens could not be distinguished satisfactorily from this species.

Figures

FIGURES 50 – 57. Azaleothrips species. formosae sp. n. female 50 – 53: (50) head; (51) pronotum; (52) antennal segments III & IV; (53) meso & metanotum. inflavus sp. n. female 54 – 57: (54) head; (55) antennal segments VII & VIII; (56) pronotum; (57) meso & metanotum.