Thrips lomatus

Rasool, Iftekhar, Alattal, Yehya Zaki & Aldhafer, Hathal M., 2023, Faunistic inventory, identification keys and zoogeographical analysis of the Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of Saudi Arabia, including two new species, Zootaxa 5306 (2), pp. 151-200 : 190-191

Thrips lomatus zur Strassen

Thrips lomatus zur Strassen, 1979: 96.

This species was described from Saudi Arabia and appears to be endemic to this country. It is similar to T. meridionalis in structural detail, but males can be distinguished by tergite IX with S1 and S2 setae arising at the same level, and the sternal pore plates transverse. In contrast, T. meridionalis has the male with tergite IX S1 setae arising anterior to S2 and the pore plates oval. The male of this species is described here for the first time.

Redescription. Female macroptera. Light to dark brown species; eyes with grey facets; antennal segment III yellow, I–II and IV–VIII brown, IV–V yellow at base; fore wings brown with pale base and clavus, legs shaded. Ocellar triangle smooth, with ocellar setae pair III small, arising within triangle below fore ocellus; antennae 8- segmented. Pronotum with weak transverse striae and 22–25 discal setae; anterior margin with 4–5 pairs setae; metanotum with longitudinal lines of sculpture laterally and few cells in middle; metanotum median pair of setae close to anterior margin, paired CPS present. Fore wing first vein with 3 setae on distal half; tergite VIII with complete posteromarginal comb of microtrichia; VIII–IX with two pairs of CPS; IX with one pair of discal medial setae; X with dorsal split incomplete; pleurotergites with 1–2 discal setae; sternites III–VII with 6–12 distal setae in single transverse line. Sternite VII with two pairs of inconspicuous setae arising between S1 and S2 very close to each other.

Male macroptera . Unicolorous yellow with antennal segments IV–VII brown, IV yellow at base; tergite VIII without posteromarginal comb; sternite III–VII with 2–4 discal setae, tergite IX setal pairs S1 and S2 with bases arranged almost in straight line; sternites III–VII with transverse and broad pore plate.

Measurements. Female macroptera . Body length 1295; head, length 110; maximum width 175; ocellar setae III 15; pronotum, length 110; width 195; pronotal posteroangular inner setae 55, pronotal posteroangular outer setae 50; fore wing length 750; metanotal medial setae, 45; antennal segments I–VIII length 25, 40, 55, 45, 35, 55, 5, 7.

Male macroptera . Body length 970; head, length 95; width 145; ocellar setae III 18; pronotum length 90; width 155; pronotal posteroangular inner setae 40, pronotal posteroangular outer setae 40; metanotal medial setae 30; antennal segments I–VII length 20, 32, 40, 36, 30, 55, 6, 8. Sternal plate III–VII width/length 50/10, 48/8, 47/8, 30/7, 25/10

Material studied. Al Baha, Almendaq, Wadi Turabah , five females from flowers of Nicotiana glauca , nine females, one male from unknown plant, 6.iv.2019, ( BT), Rasool, I; Al Baha, Baljurashi , one female from Achyranthes aspera , 22.ix.2020, ( BT), Rasool, I .