Holopothrips claritibialis Cavalleri & Kaminski

(Figs 55–60)

Holopothrips claritibialis Cavalleri & Kaminski, 2007: 63 .

Diagnostic features. Body (except antenna) uniformly brown, with all tibiae yellow; maxillary stylets parallel; one pair of long setae on epimeral region; chitinous islets present anterior to ferna; mesonotal and metanotal sculpture formed by broad reticles; pelta with broad reticulation, weaker or absent near anterior and posterior margins; males with two anteroangular and one posterior transverse pore plates on sternites VII–VIII; female spermatheca enlarged medially.

Comments. Known only from Southern Brazil, this brown species is unusual in having all tibiae extensively yellow (Fig. 55). The prosternum also bears a pair of chitinous islets (Fig. 58) close to ferna (also exhibited by some specimens of H. chaconi, H. graminis, H. tenuis and H. singularis sp. n.) This species shares some character states with other Holopothrips with equiangular metanotal sculpture, such as H. hambletoni, H. pennatus and H. punctatus sp. n., but the tibiae colouration sets H. claritibialis apart. Larvae are largely pale, with no red internal pigmentation. It was described damaging leaves of Mollinedia schottiana (Cavalleri & Kaminski 2007), but has been studied inducing malformations on Mollinedia elegans leaves as well. This damage includes yellowing, cell necrosis and irregular depressions on the underside of leaves.

Material studied. 2 male and 2 female paratypes; Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Maquiné, in Mollinedia schottiana leaves, 3.xi.2006 (Cavalleri, A.), at UFRGS . Slide codes UFRGS 0 827, UFRGS 0 829, UFRGS 0 832 and UFRGS 0 846 .