Teuchothrips kokatha, Mound & Dang & Tree, 2023

Mound, Laurence A., Dang, Lihong & Tree, Desley J., 2023, Structural diversity among the leaf-feeding thrips of Australia in the genus Teuchothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) with 20 new species, Zootaxa 5383 (4), pp. 441-475 : 461

Teuchothrips kokatha sp.n.

( Figs 56–62 )

Female macroptera. Body and legs brown, all tarsi yellow also apex of fore tibiae ( Fig. 57 ); antennal segment I–II and VI–VIII brown, III yellow, IV–V increasingly light brown; major setae pale; fore wings uniformly pale, including base. Head longer than wide, genae convex with several pairs of rather broad pale setae, vertex covered with reticulate sculpture, all setae broad and pale including postocular setae; maxillary stylets retracted to eyes, close together medially ( Fig. 56 ). Antennal segment III twice as long as wide; segment IV with 2 major sense cones; VIII short and distinct from VII ( Fig. 60 ). Pronotum covered with irregular reticulate sculpture, with 5 pairs of broadly capitate pale major setae, surface with all setae broad, blunt and pale ( Fig. 59 ). Fore femora not enlarged, tarsal tooth almost half as long as tarsal width. Mesonotum transversely reticulate ( Figs 58, 61 ). Metanotum reticulate, with 6–10 broad pale discal setae, major setal pair long, blunt and pale ( Fig. 61 ). Fore wing without duplicated cilia, sub-basal setae broadly capitate. Mesopresternum reduced to 2 triangles; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Pelta irregularly triangular with broad base ( Fig. 62 ); tergites II–VII each with 2 pairs of sigmoid setae, major setae all long, broad and pale; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 capitate, about half as long as tube; tube margins straight.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1550. Head, length 185; maximum width 175; compound eye dorsal length 55. Pronotum, length 120; width 215; epimeral setae 50. Fore wing, length XX; sub-basal setae S1 30, S2 35, S3 60. Tergite VIII posterolateral setae 55; tergite IX setae S1 50, S2 65; tube, length 100, basal width 50; anal setae, length 70. Antennal segments I–VIII length (width): 30 (20), 50 (25), 45 (20), 40 (25), 45 (25), 45 (25), 40 (20), 15 (10).

Male macroptera. Similar to female in colour and sculpture, fore tarsal tooth larger; sternite VIII with transverse pore plate occupying most of sternite; tergite IX setae S2 slightly longer than setae S1.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1540. Head, length 165; width 165. Pronotum, length 160; width 265. Tergite IX setae S1 50, S2 65. Tube, length 110, basal width 55; anal setae, length 85.

Specimens studied. Holotype female, Australia, Northern Territory, Palm Valley , from Melaleuca glomerata , 22.x.1967 ( LAM 278 ), in ANIC.

Paratypes: 1 female, 1 male taken with holotype. South Australia, Coober Pedy 100km south , 1 female, 1 male from Melaleuca glomerata , 27.x.1967.

Comments. The broadly blunt, pale setae of this species are unique amongst species of this genus, although most of its character states are found in other species considered here. The unusual lack of fore wing duplicated cilia is shared with the type species of the genus, and the presence of only two sense cones on antennal segment IV is recorded here in 12 of the 34 recognised species.

Figures

FIGURES 53–62. Teuchothrips of Australia. T. kaurna 53–55: (53) head, thorax & pelta; (54) antenna; (55) tergites IX–X. T. kokatha 56–62: (56) head; (57) head & pronotum; (58) metanotum & pelta; (59) pronotum; (60) antenna; (61) metanotum; (62) pelta.