Vulgatothrips smilax (Bhatti) Wang & Li & Tong & Mound, 2020

Wang, Zhaohong, Li, Yajin, Tong, Xiaoli & Mound, Laurence, 2020, Phylogenetic analysis of the Taeniothrips genus-group, with revision of the species of Ctenothrips and Vulgatothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripinae), Zootaxa 4750 (3), pp. 301-327 : 318-319

Vulgatothrips smilax (Bhatti) Comb. n.

Ctenothrips smilax Bhatti, 1976: 317 .

Ctenothrips niger Kudô, 1977: 1 . Syn. n.

( Figs 6 , 26 , 35 , 67 )

The species smilax was described originally from five brachypterous specimens in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir in India . Kudô (1977) described niger from Nepal based on three macropterous females without referring to smilax . Since then, the differences between these species have been based solely on original descriptions: niger is macropterous, with antennal segments dark brown and abdominal tergites I–VII hexagonally reticulate; while smilax is brachypterous, with antennal segments brown and abdominal tergites V–VI with extremely faint reticulation, smooth in about posterior half and no reticulations on VII ( Bhatti 1976; Chen 1979; Xie et al. 2011). However, the distinction of “dark brown” or “brown” antennae is not a secure difference, and the original description of smilax also pointed out distinct reticulation present on tergites V–VIII in a female. Tyagi (2014) identified as niger some brachypterous specimens in India and noted variation in the position of the metanotal median setae and campaniform sensilla. Similar variation was observed by Hu & Feng (2014), with the description of males and the frequent variation in wing length. Hu & Feng (2011) also recorded the distribution of smilax in China, with males having a pore plate on abdominal sternites III–V. However, in the present study we examined two males of smilax identified by Bhatti that were collected from the same plant and at the same location and almost the same time as the paratypes of this species. These males have a large pore plate only on abdominal sternites III–IV instead of III–V. Moreover, these two males have normal antennal segment VI, with fewer setae on the distal half, while the males identified as smilax from China by Hu & Feng (2011) have antennal segment VI longer with more setae, and some setae situated on the basal half. Moreover, the length of tergite I median setae S1 of this species is also variable, two males collected by Bhatti have quite long median setae on tergite I, and one female from Nepal has these setae short and small. Among specimens collected in China, the length of these setae varies within populations from about 0.25 to 0.5 of the length of tergite I (Zhang SM, pers. comm. 2018). All the former descriptions failed to mention the mesosternopleural sutures, but according to the specimens observed in this study, weak meso-sternopleural sutures are present, and of the three brachypterous specimens from India , one has a weakly developed suture on one side (Tyagi K, pers. comm. 2018). Therefore niger is here considered a synonym of smilax , and the diagnosis of smilax is as follows: female macropterous, brachypterous or micropterous, head with ocellar setae I present ( Fig. 6 ), postocular setae pair I present and situated ahead of setal rows; antennae completely brown with base of segment III sometimes slightly paler ( Fig. 35 ); metanotal median setae close to anterior margin or behind margin, campaniform sensilla situated in the middle or on posterior third; mesosternal sternopleural sutures present ( Fig. 26 ); tergites hexagonally reticulate but rather smooth near posterior margin; male with pore plate on abdominal sternites III–IV and antennal segment VI with all setae arising in distal half.

Material examined: CHINA, Yunnan, Mt. Ailao , Alt. 2460m, 1 female from Asteraceae 10.vi.2011 (Q.L. Hu) ( NWAFU) . NEPAL, Parbat Distr., Goropani , 2750m, 1 female, 5.x.1983 (I. Löbl) ( SMF) . INDIA, Bhaderwah , 2 males from fern, 2.vi.1976 (J.S. Bhatti) ( BMNH & SMF) .

Figures

FIGURES 2–15. Characters on head & pronotum. 2–9 Head: (2) C. kwanzanensis; (3) C. distinctus; (4) C. parisae; (5) C. transeolineae; (6) V. smilax; (7) V. dissimilis; (8) H. aino; (9) Ta. damansarae. 10–15 Head and pronotum: (10) Ay. chaetophora; (11) Ta. eucharii; (12) Te. frici; (13) C. bridwelli; (14) V. shennongjiaensis; (15) C. transeolineae.

FIGURES 16–31. Characters on thorax. 16–19 pronotum: (16) C. distinctus; (17) C. distinctus; (18) C. transeolineae; (19) C. parisae. 20–23 Meso-and metanotum: (20) V. shennongjiaensis; (21) C. distinctus; (22) Ta. eucharii; (23) C. parisae. 24–26 Meso-and metasternum: (24) C. distinctus; (25) Ta. eucharii; (26) V. smilax. 27–28 Hind leg: (27) C. bridwelli; (28) C. distinctus. 29–31 Fore wing: (29) Ta. orionis; (30) C. parisae; (31) C. distinctus.

FIGURES 32–38. Antennae: (32) H. aino; (33) Sc. cardamomi; (34) C. transeolineae; (35) male of V. smilax; (36) C. kwanzanensis segments III–VI; (37) C. kwanzanensis segments III–V; (38) C. kwanzanensis.

FIGURES 64–67. Vulgatothrips. (64) paratype of dissimilis; (65) paratype of shennongjiaensis; (66) shennongjiaensis; (67) male of smilax.