Hydatothrips williamsi, Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, And Desley J., 2009

Mound, Laurence A. & Tree, And Desley J., 2009, Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 1983, pp. 1-22 : 10-11

Hydatothrips williamsi sp.n.

( Figs 31–36 )

Female macroptera. Strongly bicoloured; body dark brown, abdominal segments IV–VI clear yellow with antecostal ridge lightly shaded; posterior half of metathorax yellow, also median part of tergite I; tarsi yellow, also mid and hind tibiae; antennal segments I–III yellow, IV–V shaded at apex, VI–VIII pale brown; forewing sub-basal area pale before dark band, distal half variably paler. Head with occipital carina close to eyes; ocellar triangle transversely reticulate/striate with markings between the main lines; ocellar setae III arise outside ocellar triangle; three pairs of postocular setae, median pair long; postoccipital area with closely spaced reticulate striations. Antennal segments III–IV with long apical neck. Pronotum anterior third transversely reticulate with markings inside reticles; blotch almost rectangular, narrow transverse reticulation with markings between main striae. Metanotum with linear reticulation, many markings between main striae. Tergite I medially with no marginal microtrichia, II–VIII with complete microtrichiate posterior margin. Sternites with few or no discal microtrichia mesad of marginal setae S1; posterior margins with lobed craspeda bearing long microtrichia between each pair of marginal setae; sternite VII medially with neither discal nor marginal microtrichia, three pairs of setae arise sub-marginally; sternites VI–VII with 1 or 2 discal setae laterally.

Measurements. Holotype female in microns: Body length 1370. Head, length 230; width across eyes 190. Pronotum, length 130; width 225. Forewing length 885. Antennal segments III–VIII length 76, 74, 55, 58, 10, 14.

Male. Similar to female, abdominal segment VII yellowish medially; sternites VI–VII with broadly oval glandular area.

Material studied. Holotype female, New South Wales, 3km north of Lansdowne, near Taree, from Morinda jasminoides , 2.ii.2001 (G.Williams) (in ANIC).

Paratypes: 2 males beaten from foliage, Kiwarrak Forest south of Taree, 26.x.2001; Queensland, O’Reillys, Lamington, 1 female beating foliage, 14.iii.2007; same locality, 1 female in malaise trap, i. 2007; 8 miles north of Bell, 1 female from Cassia nemophila , 17.vii.1968.

Comments. This species has the metasternum less deeply eroded than in the three species described here from Parsonsia vines, and is apparently unique in this group in having one or two discal setae laterally on the sixth and seventh sternites. Despite these differences, the species is very similar to the three species from Parsonsia in the form of the tergal and sternal posterior margins, and is likely to be found to be associated with one of the species of this vine genus that occur widely in eastern Australia.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 36. Hydatothrips latisensibilis & H. williamsi. (27 – 30) H. latisensibilis, (27) Head, pro, meso & metanota; (28) Tergites; (29) Male sternites; (30) Terminal antennal segments, ventral and lateral views. (31 – 36) H. williamsi, (31) Head; (32) Meso & metanota; (33) Tergites; (34) Tergites I – III; (35) Sternites; (36) Metasternum.