Klambothrips, Mound, Laurence A. & Morris, David C., 2007

Mound, Laurence A. & Morris, David C., 2007, A new thrips pest of Myoporum cultivars in California, in a new genus of leaf-galling Australian Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera), Zootaxa 1495, pp. 35-45 : 39

Klambothrips gen. n.

Type species Klambothrips myopori sp. n.

In most character states, including the presence on the head of a pair of stout cheek setae, the four species placed in this new genus are similar to some of the 33 species currently placed in the genus Akainothrips Mound , all of which live on Acacia trees ( Crespi et al., 2004). However, these four species all have the mid and hind tibiae uniformly dark brown whereas similar looking Akainothrips species that lack pronotal anteromarginal setae have the tibiae yellow at the apex. Moreover, the four species of Klambothrips are all associated with the leaves of species of Myoporaceae or Asteraceae , on which they induce the irregular galls from which the generic name is derived ( Fig. 1 ). In contrast, all Akainothrips species are opportunistic invaders of pre-existing enclosed spaces on species of Acacia that bear phyllodes not leaves ( Crespi et al., 2004). The species of Akainothrips and Klambothrips differ from all of the Australian species currently listed under Teuchothrips in the presence of a pair of stout cheek setae. As indicated above, the generic classification of the species currently listed under Teuchothrips remains unsatisfactory. But the available evidence, biological, morphological, and molecular ( Fig. 5 ), indicates that the four species considered here are sufficiently closely related to be considered congeneric and distinct from the other members of this complex of species.

Generic diagnosis. Dark brown, macropterous Phlaeothripinae. Antennae 8-segmented, III with one sensorium, IV with three sensoria, VIII broad at base. Head longer than wide; cheeks with one pair of stout setae in basal third; maxillary stylets retracted at least to postocular setae; postocular setae no larger than minor setae. Pronotum with three pairs of capitate major setae, anteromarginals and midlaterals usually no larger than discals. Prosternal basantra not developed; anterior margin of ferna almost transverse; mesopraesternum reduced to two small lateral triangles. Fore tarsus with inner apex slightly recurved forming a small tooth. Metanotum reticulate, with one pair of setae medially; sternopleural sutures elongate. Forewing parallel sided, with six to nine duplicated cilia; with one or two capitate sub-basal setae. Pelta triangular, reticulate, with paired campaniform sensilla; tergites II – VII with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, marginal setae S1 capitate and longer than setae S2; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 shorter than tube, bluntly pointed to weakly capitate, S3 acute; anal setae long. Males varying in size; large males with fore tarsal tooth massive and femora swollen, and fore coxae bearing stout setae; tergite IX setae S2 capitate but shorter than S1; sternite VIII without glandular area.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Healthy and thrips-damaged Myoporum laetum in California.

FIGURE 5. Relationships between some Australian Phlaeothripinae based on sequence data from the genes “ wingless ” and “ CO 1 ”.