Minaeithrips driesseni, Mound, Laurence A., 2007

Mound, Laurence A., 2007, New Australian spore-feeding Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae), Zootaxa 1604, pp. 53-68 : 61-62

Minaeithrips driesseni sp.n.

Apterous female. Colour brown, tarsi, apices of tibiae and basal two-thirds of tube yellow; head sometimes paler medially; antennal segment II apex paler than pedicel of segment III. Head with cheeks convex; eyes rounded, with at least 20 ommatidia on dorsal surface and 15 ventrally; ocelli present but very small; postocular setae weakly capitate, shorter than eye width; one pair of minute interocular setae, vertex without setae medially ( Fig. 13 ). Antennal segment III with two sensoria, pedicel slightly ridged; segments IV–VII each sharply constricted to a basal pedicel ( Fig. 17 ). Pronotal am and ml major setae minute, aa, epim and pa major setae short and weakly capitate. Thoracic sternites extensively eroded ( Fig. 15 ), but mesopraesternum weakly indicated. Meso and metanota with complete transverse suture. Pelta eroded posteromedially; tergites II–VII each with one pair of marginal setae with apices rounded; tergite IX three pairs of major setae rather stout with apices rounded.

Measurements of holotype female in microns. Body length 1400. Head, length 150; width 180; postocular setae 35. Pronotum, length 100; width 220; major setae am 5, aa 20, ml 5, epim 35, pa 20. Metanotal median setae 15. Tergite IX setae S1 45, S2 55, S3 60. Tube, length 95; anal setae?60. Antennal segments III– VII+VIII length, 40, 40, 40, 40, 60.

Material studied. Holotype female, Tasmania, Lake St Clair, ii–iii. 2004 (M. Driessen).

Paratypes: same date and locality as holotype 2 females 1 male; Lake Pedder, 5 females 2 males, ii–iii. 2004.

Comments. This species was collected during a survey of invertebrates associated with “button-grass moorland” in Tasmania. The dominant plant in these areas is Gymnoschoenus (Cyperaceae) , and this thrips presumably feeds on fungi at the bases of these sedges.

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-