Neurisothrips carteri ( Moulton, 1937 )

Mound, Laurence A., 2020, Diversity in the Hawaiian endemic genus Neurisothrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 4779 (2), pp. 215-229 : 219

Neurisothrips carteri ( Moulton, 1937)

( Fig. 40 )

Described from a single female taken in a wind trap on Oahu, Moulton pointed out the distinctive position of the metanotal median setae “16 microns back from anterior margin”. This character state was unique amongst the original seven species placed in Neurisothrips but was ignored by subsequent workers. Curiously, the metanotal median setae of saki sp. n. are also placed behind the anterior margin, but this condition is not known amongst other members of this genus. A further character state that is distinctive in carteri is the arrangement of the tergal discal setae in a single transverse row, and despite the uniformly yellow colour of the body and legs, antennal segments III–VII are sharply brown. This species is possibly associated with Acacia koa , and specimens taken from that tree having been studied from two sites in Hawaii and also from Kaui. Two males taken with females from Acacia koa at Volcano have large oval pore plates but only on sternites V–VII, although one of these males has a fragmented pore plate on sternite IV. Four females of a very similar species have been studied with the following data: Hawaii, Mauna Loa Trail, Styphelia leaves, 22.vii.2016. These females have the metanotal setae less than 10 microns back from anterior margin, and the tergal lateral discal setae are considerably smaller and weaker than in typical carteri .

Figures

FIGURES 39–49. Neurisothrips species. Female tergites IV–V 39–46: (39) antennatus; (40) carteri; (41) karl sp. n.; (42) multispinus; (43) robbiei sp. n.; (44) fran sp. n.; (45) tsuda sp. n.; (46) williamsi. Mesonotum, metanotum & tergites I–II 47–48: (47) robbiei sp. n.; (48) antennatus. (49) saki sp. n. female tergites III–V.