Masamithrips, Mound, Laurence A., 2011

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064 (1), pp. 1-40 : 22-23

Masamithrips gen.n.

( Figs 52 –70)

Diagnosis. Macropterous Thripinae . Antennae 8-segmented, segment I with no dorso-apical setae, sensoria on III– IV simple. Head broadest across eyes, cheeks straight, converging to base; compound eyes with 5 pigmented facets; ocellar setae pair I widely separated, pair III arising between posterior ocelli ( Figs 53 , 63), postocular setae minute; maxillary palps 2-segmented. Pronotum weakly trapezoidal, surface with faint transverse reticulation, discal setae small; with 2 pairs of posteroangular setae. Prosternal basantra with 1–7 pairs of setae ( Fig. 58 ); fernal plates weakly connected medially; spinasternum transverse, meso and meta furca without spinula, mesothoracic sterno-pleural sutures complete. Mesonotal anterior campaniform sensilla present, median pair of setae distant from posterior margin. Metanotal sculpture linear on posterior half; median setae just behind anterior margin, closer to lateral pair than to each other; no campaniform sensilla. Fore wing slender, first vein with 3 widely spaced setae on distal half; second vein with few widely spaced setae; clavus with 4 or 5 veinal setae but no discal seta ( Fig. 54 ); posterior fringe wavy. Tergites weakly sculptured medially, laterally usually with microtrichia on some sculpture lines; II–VIII with craspedum present, campaniform sensilla near posterior margin; IX with 2 pairs of campaniform sensilla; X with complete median split. Sternites with transverse row of discal setae, posterior margin with no craspedum; sternite II with 2 or 3 pairs of marginal setae, III–VII with 3 pairs, all arising at margin on VII. Male (where known) with oval pore plate on antecostal area of some median sternites ( Fig. 61 ); tergite IX with no stout setae.

Type-species Masamithrips masamii sp.n.

Comments. The genus represents a northern Australian endemic radiation on Poaceae , and appears to involve a considerable number of similar-looking species. Species in this genus share most character states with the species of Monothrips , but differ in the number of maxillary palp segments and the absence of sternal craspeda. The genus is probably also related to Aliceathrips , but species in that genus differ from those of Masamithrips in the form of the head and in the lack of setae on the prosternal basantra. Caprithrips species also share many character states with Masamithrips species, particularly the head shape, but have no long pronotal setae, and are always wingless. The genus is named in recognition of the significant contributions by Masami Masumoto to our knowledge of Thripinae .

Key to Masamithrips species

1. Female with tergite IX median dorsal setae shorter than median posterior pair, scarcely extending to posterior margin of tergite ( Fig. 59 ); female sternite VI usually with small pore plate on antecostal area ( Fig. 60 ); antennal segment IV weakly shaded brown [abdominal segment X brown, IX almost clear yellow]........................................ masamii sp.n.

-. Female with tergite IX median dorsal setae long and stout, as long as or longer than median posterior pair, extending well beyond posterior margin of tergite ( Fig. 55 ); female sternite VI with no pore plate; antennal segment IV either clear yellow or uniformly brown..................................................................................... 2

2. Abdominal tergite VIII marginal setae S2 stout and more than 3 times as long as S1, almost as long as posteroangular seta (Fig. 66); tergite X longer than tergite IX [abdominal segment X and posterior half of IX dark brown].......... tanyoeikus sp.n.

-. Abdominal tergite VIII marginal setae S2 scarcely larger than S1, at most 1.5 times as long and scarcely 0.5 as long as posteroangular setae (Figs 68, 70); tergite X rarely as long as IX.................................................... 3

3. Antennal segment VI yellow in basal 0.3–0.5, V almost clear yellow.................................. melinus sp.n.

-. Antennal segment VI brown or scarcely paler at base, V at least shaded brown.................................... 4

4. Antennal segments IV–V as dark brown as VI..................................................... williei sp.n.

-. Antennal segment IV as yellow as III.................................................................... 5

5. Antennal segment III 2.0 times as long as wide ( Fig. 52 ); abdominal segment X and posterior half of IX dark brown; tergite VIII setae S2 subequal in length to setae S1 ( Fig. 55 )................................................ geikiei sp.n.

-. Antennal segment III 2.2 times as long as wide (Fig. 69); abdominal segments IX–X almost yellow; tergite VIII setae S2 almost 2.0 times as long as setae S1 (Fig. 70)................................................... wyndhami sp.n.

Figures

FIGURES 52 – 62. Masamithrips spp. M. geikiei 52 – 55: (52) antenna; (53) head & pronotum; (54) meso & metanota; (55) tergites VIII – X. M. masamii 56 – 62: (56) antenna; (57) head & thorax; (58) prosternum; (59) tergites VIII – X; (60) sternites V – VII; (61) male sternites V – VII; (62) tergites IV – VI.