Aliceathrips engaius, Mound, Laurence A., 2011

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064 (1), pp. 1-40 : 10

Aliceathrips engaius sp.n.

( Figs 4–8 )

Female macroptera. Body and legs yellow, ovipositor and mouth parts dark; fore wing slightly darker on basal half than on distal half; antennal segment I pale, II light brown, III–V yellow with apex light brown, VI–VIII brown. With the character states in the generic diagnosis; antennae 8-segmented ( Fig. 8 ), III with sensorium simple, IV with sensorium forked (inner branch sometimes slender and difficult to see). Ocellar setae III 1.5 times as long as an ocellus ( Fig. 5 ). Pronotal posteroangular setae inner pair much shorter than outer pair; metanotum with weak irregular sculpture ( Fig. 5 ); mesosternal anterior margin with about 12 setae; tergites with transverse reticulation, tergite IX median dorsal setae slender and not extending to posterior margin, posterior pair I equal in length to pair II; X with median split incomplete; sternite II with 0–3 discal setae, III–VII with 4–10 discal setae in an irregular transverse row.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1550. Head length 150; width across eyes 145; ocellar setae III 23. Pronotum, length 150; maximum width 160; pa inner setae 20; pa outer setae 45. Fore wing length 720. Metanotal median setae 15. Tergite IX median-dorsal setae 45; marginal setae S1 115; S2 115. Tergite X setae S1 65. Antennal segments III–VIII length 50, 42, 35, 48, 10, 12.

Male macroptera. Smaller and paler than female; tergite IX with pair of stout dark processes ( Fig. 4 ); sternite III with transverse pore plate on antecostal area.

Material studied. Holotype female, Northern Territory, Macdonnell Ranges , Standley Chasm , from Triodia hubbardi leaves, 24.iii.2010 (Chris Palmer).

Paratypes: 7 females taken with holotype; same locality, date and collector, 2 females from Digitaria brownii leaves, 11 females, 5 males from Neurachne tenuifolia leaves; same locality, 31.x.1999, 1 female, 1 male from Neurachne tenuifolia leaves. Macdonnell Range, Ellery Creek , 2 females beaten from Alectryon oleifolius , 1.xi.1999.

Comments. This is the largest species in the genus, with a particularly slender body. It differs from the other species in having the maxillary palps elongate and 3-segmented, the sensoria on the fourth antennal segment forked, and the median dorsal setae on tergite IX of females short and slender. The male has a pore plate only on sternite III, and the paired conical processes on tergite IX are different from those of the males of other species.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Aliceathrips spp. A. australiensis 1 – 3: (1) head & thorax; (2) tergites V – VIII; (3) male tergites VIII – IX. A. engaius 4 – 8: (4) male tergites VII – IX; (5) head & thorax; (6) tergites I – III; (7) thoraxic sterna; (8) antenna. A. mnestes 9 – 10: (9) head; (10) sternites V – VII.