Teuchothrips leptospermum, Mound & Dang & Tree, 2023

Mound, Laurence A., Dang, Lihong & Tree, Desley J., 2023, Structural diversity among the leaf-feeding thrips of Australia in the genus Teuchothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripinae) with 20 new species, Zootaxa 5383 (4), pp. 441-475 : 462-464

Teuchothrips leptospermum sp.n.

( Figs 65–67 )

Female microptera. Body and legs brown, mid and hind tarsi usually brown or yellowish brown, fore tarsi particularly variable to almost yellow; antennae brown, III paler at base (specimens from Queensland with III – V more extensively pale); major setae pale; fore wings uniformly pale, including base. Head longer than wide, genae convex, vertex almost without sculpture, postocular setae capitate and extending well beyond posterior margin of eyes; maxillary stylets retracted almost to eyes, close together medially ( Fig. 65 ). Antennal segment III about 1.5 times as long as wide; segment IV with 2 major sense cones; VIII short and almost confluent with VII ( Fig. 67 ). Pronotum with 5 pairs of capitate major setae but am setae small only weakly capitate. Fore femora not enlarged, tarsal tooth about half as long as tarsal width. Mesonotum transversely reticulate, lateral setal pair small. Metanotum very weakly reticulate, major setal pair small and slender ( Fig. 66 ). Mesopresternum with 2 lateral triangles or these weakly joined medially; metathoracic sternopleural sutures long. Pelta broadly D-shaped with base weakly flared; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 capitate, usually two-thirds as long as tube; tube margins mainly straight.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 2110. Head, length 200; maximum width 200; compound eye dorsal length 60. Pronotum, length 185; width 290; epimeral setae 50. Fore wing, length 150; sub-basal setae S1 40, S2 50, S3 70. Tergite VIII posterolateral setae 50; tergite IX setae S1 125, S2 110; tube, length 165, basal width 80; anal setae, length 140. Antennal segments I–VIII length (width): 45 (30), 50 (35), 60 (30), 55 (30), 60 (30), 60 (30), 60 (25), 30 (15).

Female macroptera. Closely similar to microptera in colour, structure and sculpture; fore wing with about 6 duplicated cilia.

Male microptera. Similar to female in colour, structure and sculpture except major setae rather longer; large male with pronotum and fore legs enlarged, fore tibia inner apex with distinct tubercle; tarsal tooth about two-thirds of tarsal width; sternite VIII with large pore plate occupying much of sternite; tergite IX setae S2 capitate, less than half as long as setae S1.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 2000. Head, length 200; width 180. Pronotum, length 200; width 290. Tergite IX setae S1 125, S2 40; tube, length 175, basal width 80; anal setae, length 170.

Specimens studied. Holotype female, Australia, Tasmania, MtAnne, Condominium Creek ,from Leptospermum scoparium , 2.v.1982 ( LAM 1693 ), in ANIC.

Paratypes: in ANIC: 1 female, 2 males taken with holotype; Tasmania, Meander Forest Reserve, 2 females with larvae from Eremococcus galls on Leptospermum lanigerum , 19.ii.2004; Little Fisher River, 2 female hemimacropterae, 3 female micropterae, beating, 14.xi.1993. South Australia, Wottons Scrub [10km southeast of Adelaide], 1 female macroptera from Leptospermum , 10.i.2006. New South Wales, Fitzroy Falls, 2 female, 1 male micropterae from Leptospermum fruits, 14.iv.2001. Australian Capital Territory, Brindabella, Piccadilly Circus, 3 female micropterae, 3 male micropterae, 1 female macroptera. on Leptospermum sp. , 26.viii.2023.

In QDPC: New South Wales, Brooklyn [north of Sydney], 3 female macropterae, 2 female micropterae, 1 male microptera from Eremococcus gall on Leptospermum sp. , 23.ii.2013 (Lyn Cook) . Queensland, Brisbane, Griffith University , 1 male, 2 females from Eremococcus pirogarus galls, 18.v.2008

Comments. This is one of three Teuchothrips species that have been taken in association with Eriococcidae galls. The paratypes in QDPC have slightly shorter tergite IX setae S1 and antennal segment III paler than in the specimens in ANIC, but otherwise cannot be distinguished. Two female paratypes from Tasmania are interpreted as hemi-macropterae, the wings are not as long as is expected in fully winged adults. Taken together with lutrowita sp.n. at more than one site, the most obvious difference is the complete absence of sculpture on the metanotum in leptospermum sp.n., together with the presence of only two major sense cones on the fourth antennal segment. Other differences are discussed under lutrowita sp.n.

Figures

FIGURES 63–75. Teuchothrips of Australia. T. larrakia 63–64: (63) head & pronotum; (64) fore tarsus, male. T. leptospermum 65–67: (65) head & pronotum; (66) metanotum & pelta; (67) antenna. T. longiseta 68–70: (68) head & pronotum; (69) type slide; (70) metanotum & pelta. T. lutruwita 71–75: (71) antenna; (72) head; (73) metanotum & pelta; (74) prosternites; (75) tergites IX–X.