Masamithrips melinus, Mound, Laurence A., 2011

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064, pp. 1-40 : 25

Masamithrips melinus sp.n.

(Figs 63–64)

Female macroptera. Body, legs and antennae mainly yellow, abdominal segment X and lateral margins of IX shaded light brown, antennal segments III–V yellow, VI yellow in basal 0.4–0.5. Closely similar to M. masamii in body structure and chaetotaxy; tergite IX as long as X, with median dorsal setae extending well beyond posterior margin of tergite, longer and stouter than posterior median setae. Sternite II with about 6 discal setae and 2 pairs of marginal setae; III–VII with irregular row of about 10–15 discal setae.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1140. Head length 90; width across eyes 100; ocellar setae III 15. Pronotum, length 120; maximum width 135; pa inner setae 40; pa outer setae 30. Fore wing length 520. Metanotal median setae 25. Tergite IX length 70; median dorsal setae 65; setae S1 70; S2 100. Tergite X length 70; setae S1 75. Antennal segments III–VIII length 25, 25, 28, 38, 7, 10.

Male macroptera. Similar to but smaller than female, apex of abdomen yellow; tergite IX dorsal setae small and slender; sternite II with 3 pairs of marginal setae, IV–VI with broad pore plate on antecostal area.

Material studied. Holotype female, Western Australia, Kununurra, Kununurra Gorge, from native Poaceae , 23.ii.2005 (LAM 4574).

Paratypes: Western Australia: 14 females, 1 male collected with holotype.

Non-paratypic specimens: New South Wales, Bullio, 25km west of Mittagong, 3 females from Cymbopogon refractus leaves, 2.iv.2010; Broken Hill, 2 females from Cymbopogon ambiguus leaves, 15.i.2001. Northern Territory, Alice Springs, 100km west, Serpentine Gorge, 1 female from Cymbopogon ambiguus leaves, 1.x.1999. Queensland, Aramac, 36km NE, 10 females from Cymbopogon sp., 10.iv.2005.

Comments. This species is closely similar in structure to M. masamii , apart from the differences noted above. These two were collected at the same site, but not from the same grass species. The specimens listed from New South Wales and Northern Territory cannot be distinguished from the type series from the north of Western Australia. In contrast, the females listed from Queensland have the fifth antennal segment distinctly shaded, and the sternites have few discal setae, but are otherwise similar in structure.