Haplothrips timori, Mound & Minaei, 2007

Mound, Laurence A. & Minaei, Kambiz, 2007, Australian thrips of the Haplothrips lineage (Insecta: Thysanoptera), Journal of Natural History 41 (45 - 48), pp. 2919-2978 : 2962-2964

Haplothrips timori sp. nov.

Male macroptera. Body and legs brown, fore tarsi and apices of fore tibiae yellow, antennal segment III yellowish brown on external margin at base (Figure 26); major setae and fore wing pale. Head longer than wide, maxillary stylets about one-third of head width apart, maxillary bridge complete ( Figure 56 ); postocular setae no larger than minor setae on vertex. Antennal segment III with two sensoria, IV with four sensoria; segment VIII broad at base. Pronotal major setae no larger than discal setae, except capitate epimeral setae. Mesonotal lateral setae small. Metanotum reticulate medially, median setae arise on anterior half of sclerite. Mesopresternum eroded to two lateral triangles. Fore tarsal tooth small on inner margin of tarsus. Fore wing with no duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae capitate, arising in a straight line. Tergite II with dentate sculpture but no discal setae lateral to wing-retaining setae ( Figure 58 ); tergites II–VII with posteromarginal setae S1 strongly capitate; tergite VIII S1 short and pointed; tergite IX setae S1 and S3 capitate, S2 short and stout with apex blunt.

Measurements of holotype female (in M m). Body length 1480. Head, length 170; median width 148; postocular setae 5. Pronotum, length 102; width 240; major setae am 2, aa 2, ml 2, epim 10, pa 2. Fore wing length 580; sub-basal setae 16, 16, 22. Tergite IX setae S1 62, S2 26, S3 68. Tube length 118; basal width 50; anal setae 84. Antennal segments III–VIII length 42, 44, 42, 42, 38, 28.

Material examined

Holotype „ macroptera: Northern Territory, Humpty Doo, Lambell’s Lagoon , from mango dead leaves, 29 December 1995 (LAM 2923).

Comments

The single male specimen on which this species is described is unique amongst the described Haplothrips (Trybomiella) species in having only the epimeral setae on the pronotum well developed. Moreover, the presence of two pairs of capitate setae on the ninth abdominal tergite has not previously been reported for any male in this group. This is probably an Indonesian species, and a single female specimen collected at Dili, Timor Leste, appears to be conspecific, although the maxillary stylets are only 15% of the head width apart.

Haplothrips varius Hood

Haplothrips varius Hood 1918, p 128 .

Haplothrips (Trybomiella) varius Hood ; Pitkin 1973, p 333.

With its dark antennae and broad fore wings lacking duplicated cilia, this is a typical member of the subgenus Trybomiella . It breeds in the flowers of Ptilotus species , an Australian genus of Amaranthaceae , and has been collected widely across the arid zone, from Canberra in the south-east to Karratha and the Fitzroy River in the north of Western Australia.

Recognition

Macropterous, body and legs dark brown, fore tarsi and antennal segment III lighter; pronotal major setae and fore wings pale. Maxillary stylets about one-quarter of head width apart; antennal segment III with two sensoria, IV with four sensoria. Pronotum with five pairs of capitate setae; mesopresternum eroded medially into two lateral triangles. Fore tarsal tooth in female very small, in male well developed. Mesonotal lateral setae capitate. Metanotum weakly sculptured medially, median setal pair arising on anterior half. Fore wing exceptionally broad distally, with no duplicated cilia; sub-basal setae capitate with bases forming a triangle. Pelta broadly triangular; tergites II–IV lateral to wing-retaining setae with lines of sculpture and several small setae; tergites II–VII with setae S1 weakly capitate to blunt; tergite IX setae S1 blunt, S2 pointed. Male pseudovirga with apex transverse.

Measurements of one female (in M m) (Western Australia, Wittenoom, September 1995). Body length 2400. Head, length 206; median width 188; postocular setae 52. Pronotum, length 164; width320; major setae am 42, aa 54, ml 48, epim 78, pa 76. Fore wing length 1000; sub-basal setae 42, 54, 62. Tergite IX setae S1 114, S2 120, S3 90. Tube length 130; basal width 68; anal setae 160. Antennal segments III–VIII length 48, 52, 50, 48, 44, 32.

Haplothrips victoriensis Bagnall

Haplothrips victoriensis Bagnall 1918, p 208 .

Haplothrips jarvisi Kelly in Kelly and Mayne 1934, p 46. syn. n.

This is the most commonly encountered member of the genus in Australia, from south of the Tropic of Capricorn to Tasmania. No valid records from Northern Territory have been found, and in Queensland the most northerly valid record is from Nambour. In contrast, one female has been studied from Kununurra in northern Western Australia. This thrips lives in the flowers of many plants, but despite its abundance it seems to be of limited economic significance. In Tasmania it has caused contamination problems by entering the fruits of raspberries (pers. comm. Margaret Williams), but there is evidence that it can be a useful predator of mites ( Bailey and Caon 1986). Both in general body structure and in the structure of the male genitalia this species is very similar to H. anceps , the colour character states given in the key above being the only recognised differences in adults, although the colour of the larvae is strikingly different. However, H. victoriensis is associated with flowers, whereas in southern Australia H. anceps is associated with grasses and sedges. The published description of H. jarvisi is totally inadequate, and in the absence of any specimens this name is placed as a synonym of H. victoriensis that is abundant at the type locality.

Recognition

Macropterous, body and legs dark brown, fore tarsi and base of antennal segments III and IV lighter (Figure 27); pronotal major setae dark brown; fore wing with margins distinctly shaded. Maxillary stylets about one-third of head width apart ( Figure 59 ); antennal segment III about 1.8 times as long as wide, with one sensorium, IV with four. Pronotum with five pairs of capitate setae; mesopresternum transverse and boat-shaped. Fore tarsal tooth in female minute or absent, in male usually small and arising in basal half of tarsus. Metanotum weakly sculptured, median setal pair arising on anterior half; fore wing subbasal setae S1 and S2 capitate, S3 bluntly pointed; about 12 duplicated cilia present. Tergite IX setae long and acute. Male pseudovirga with apex spoon-shaped (Figure 32).

Measurements of one female (in M m) (Tasmania, November 1999). Body length 2200. Head, length 206; median width 178; postocular setae 44. Pronotum, length 140; width 296; major setae am 30, aa 24, ml 24, epim 62, pa 50. Fore wing length 950; sub-basal setae 50, 50, 80. Tergite IX setae S1 94, S2 112, S3 102. Tube length 150; basal width 66; anal setae 150. Antennal segments III–VIII length 52, 60, 50, 44, 42, 22.

Figures

Figures 48–58. (48) Haplothrips howei holotype. (49) H. howei, male. (50) H. howei, pelta. (51) H. leucanthemi, head and pronotum. (52) H. lyndi, head and pronotum. (53) H. ordi, head and pronotum. (54) H. ordi, pelta. (55) H. salicorniae, head and pronotum. (56) H. timori, head and pronotum. (57) H. salicorniae, pelta. (58) H. timori, pelta.

Figures 59–65. (59) Haplothrips victoriensis, head and pronotum. (60) H. victoriensis, pelta. (61) Podothrips ardis, head and pronotum. (62) P. australis, head and pronotum. (63) P. australis, prosternites. (64) P. lucasseni, fore tibia. (65) P. barrowi, head and pronotum.