Thrips apricus sp. nov.

(Figs 195 –206)

Female macroptera. Body uniformly light brown including legs (Fig. 195); antennal segment I–II yellow, III–VII brown (Fig. 204); forewing uniformly yellowish brown (Fig. 206). Head broader than long (Fig. 197); eyes without pigmented facets; ocellar setae III at the tangent of ocellar triangle; six pairs of postocular setae, pair I distinctly longer than others, III and V subequal. Antennae 7-segmented, segments III and IV each with a forked sense cone (Fig. 204). Pronotum broader than long; surface with faint transverse striations; 2 pairs of well-developed posteroangular setae present (Fig. 197). Mesonotum with transverse striations; antero-median campaniform sensilla present; median pair of setae ahead of posterior margin (Fig. 198). Metanotum with longitudinal striations, a few transverse lines anteriorly; median pair of setae far behind the anterior margin; the distance between the median pair less than the median and submedian setae; campaniform sensilla present. Forewing first vein with 7 basal and 3 discal setae; second vein with 14 setae, clavus with 5 veinal and one discal seta (Fig. 206). Abdominal tergite II with 4 lateromarginal setae (Fig. 200); abdominal tergite VIII with posteromarginal comb complete (Fig. 201). Abdominal sternites III–VII with discal setae (Fig. 199); S1 setae on sternite VII ahead of the posterior margin (Fig. 199).

Measurements. (Holotype female in microns). Body length 1427. Head length (width across cheeks) 87 (122); compound eye dorsal length (width) 55 (33); pronotum median length (width) 108 (135). Forewing length 846. Antenna segments I–VII length (width): 21(26), 34 (24), 38 (19), 44 (17), 35 (19), 98 (37), 28 (14).

Male macroptera. Body colour similar to female (Fig. 196). Abdominal tergite VIII with posteromarginal comb absent; IX with two pairs of campaniform sensilla, S1 setae on tergite IX longer than S2 and little ahead to S2, the distance between S1 setae slightly more than S1 and S2 setae, S3 strongly developed and half of the S2 length (Fig. 205). Abdominal sternites III–VIII with discal setae; sternites III–VII each with an oval pore plate (Fig. 203).

Measurements. (Paratype male in microns). Body length 1212. Head length (width across cheeks) 86 (108); compound eye dorsal length (width) 53 (29); pronotum median length (width) 108 (135). Forewing length 747. Antenna segments I–VII length (width): 14 (22), 35 (19), 41 (16), 40 (18), 34 (18), 58 (19) and 14 (7).

Material studied. Holotype female, INDIA, West Bengal, Darjeeling (31.39 N, 77.11E, 1761 m), on herb, 1.xi.1993, JSB, in NZC, ZSI (Reg. No. 26224/H17) . Paratypes: 1 female and 1 male with same data as holotype (Reg. No. 26225/ H 17 and Reg. No. 26226/ H 17) .

Etymology: The species is named in latin after “the full of sunshine”.

Comments: According to Bhatti (1980), this new species is similar to T. longiceps (Bagnall), sharing the metanotal sculpture, position of ocellar setae III and body colour, comb on tergite VIII, and presence of discal setae on abdominal sternites. It can be differentiated from T. longiceps by 7-segmented antennae (8-segmented in T. longiceps); antennal segments I and II yellow (brown in T. longiceps); postocular setae arranged in one row (two rows in T. longiceps, poII behind poI and poIII); tergite II with 4 lateral marginal setae (3 lateral marginal setae in T. longiceps).