Holopothrips porrosati Mound & Marullo

(Fig. 221)

Holopothrips porrosati Mound & Marullo, 1996: 301 . Diagnostic features. Body mostly yellow, with head and abdominal segments IX–X fully brown and segment VIII bicoloured; antennal segment VIII with broad base, looking almost fused to VII in some specimens; maxillary stylets parallel; one pair of long setae on epimeral region; metanotal sculpture formed by equiangular reticles medially, which become elongate laterally and posteriorly; males with a single transverse pore plate posterior to discal setae on sternite VIII; female spermatheca not enlarged.

Comments. This species is very similar to another Costa Rican species, H. paulus, from which it differs in having abdominal segment VIII bicoloured and males with a single pore plate on sternite VIII. It is known only from the type series collected on the leaves of Philodendron (Araceae) in Costa Rica. Apparently, H. porrosati induces translucent spots on leaves where the eggs are laid (Mound & Marullo 1996). This pattern is very similar to that observed in H. claritibialis on Mollinedia spp. in Brazil.

Material studied. 1 male and 2 female paratypes; Costa Rica, Porrosati, 30 km N of San Jose, in Philodendron sp. leaves, 18.xi.1992, at BMNH. Slides with code “ LAM 2383 ”.