Mycterothrips ricini (Shumsher Singh)

Okajima, Masami Masumoto And Shûji, 2006, A revision of and key to the world species of Mycterothrips Trybom (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), Zootaxa 1261 (1261), pp. 1-90 : 73-75

Mycterothrips ricini (Shumsher Singh)

( Figs. 118–123)

Taeniothrips (Rhopalandrothrips) ricini Shumsher Singh, 1946: 164 , 176.

Rhopalandrothrips ricini (Shumsher Singh) ; Ananthakrishnan, 1960: 38–39.

Mycterothrips ricini (Shumsher Singh) ; Bhatti, 1969: 378.

Diagnosis. Body uniformly pale; antennal segments I to III pale, IV pale with distal half to fourth slightly shaded, V pale brown with base pale, VI to VIII brown. Head with cheeks slightly rounded ( Fig. 118–119). Compound eyes with relatively strong pigmented ommatidia ( Fig. 119). Pronotum with about 40 discal setae; anterior margin with about six setae subequal in length to discal setae, median pair of setae slightly elongate ( Fig. 118). Mesonotum sculptured with narrow spaced anastomosing transverse striae; CPS absent anteromedially; median pair of setae near posterior margin ( Fig. 122). Metascutum weakly and irregularly reticulated medially; median pair of setae at anterior margin ( Fig. 122). Abdominal terga without ciliate microtrichia along lines of sculpture, smooth medially; tergum II with four lateral marginal setae; terga VII and VIII with B4 setae minute; tergum IX without CPS; sterna without discal setae. Male has antennal segment VI much longer than that of female, with numerous long setae and without microtrichia ( Figs. 120–121). Abdominal terga VII and VIII with B4 setae minute; tergum IX without CPS, SB1 setae almost as long as B1 setae; sterna without discal setae ( Fig. 123). Hypomere expanded at apex ( Fig. 123).

Specimens examined. India: 1 female, Maharashtra, Nasik distr., Panchavati , 5­vi­

1966, Cyperus sp. , J. S. Bhatti (BHC). 1 female and 1 male, M. P., Jabalpur, castor leaves,

1964, J. S. Bhatti (BHC). 2 females, Kalka, Eruca sativa , 2­vii­1965, J. S. Bhatti (BHC). 1 male, Rajastan, Always, sida, 23­xi­1967, J. S. Bhatti (BHC). Japan: 1 male, Fukushima Pref., Fukushima City, Matsukawa­cho, Fukushima University, leaf­litter [ Quercus serrata & Pleioblastus chino ], 22­x­1999, T. Tsutsumi (FU). 1 female, Fukushima Pref., Fukushima City, Matsukawa­cho, Fukushima University, leaf­litter [ Quercus serrata & Pleioblastus chino ], 14­ii­2000, T. Tsutsumi (FU). 1 male, Fukushima Pref., Fukushima City, Matsukawa­cho, Fukushima University, leaf­litter [ Quercus serrata & Pleioblastus chino ], 18­ix­2000, T. Tsutsumi (FU).

Comments. According to Shumsher Singh (1946), this Indian species may be a predator of eggs of white fly, but Bhatti (1997) suggested it feeds on Ricinus communis [ Euphorbiaceae ]. The females from Japan listed above are identified as M. ricini although the pronotum has slightly fewer discal setae, and the anteromarginal setae are shorter than in Indian specimens ( Fig. 119).