Masamithrips geikiei, Mound, Laurence A., 2011

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

Masamithrips geikiei sp.n.

( Figs 52–55 )

Female macroptera. Body and legs mainly yellow; fore femora external margin weakly shaded; abdominal segment X and posterior half of IX dark brown; antennal segments I–IV yellow, V light brown, VI–VIII brown; fore wing including clavus weakly shaded in basal half with apex pale. Similar to M. masamii and M. melinus in body structure and chaetotaxy, pronotal posteroangular setae shorter ( Fig. 53 ); tergite IX shorter than X, with median dorsal setae extending well beyond posterior margin of tergite, stouter than posterior median setae and slightly shorter ( Fig. 55 ). Sternite II with about 0–3 discal setae and 2 pairs of marginal setae; III–VII with irregular row of about 3–10 discal setae.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1260. Head length 100; width across eyes 110; ocellar setae III 7. Pronotum, length 120; maximum width 130; pa inner setae 15; pa outer setae 30. Fore wing length 520. Metanotal median setae 10. Tergite IX length 80; median dorsal setae 60; setae S1 70; S2 85. Tergite X length 90; setae S1 70. Antennal segments III–VIII length 30, 23, 23, 30, 7, 10.

Material studied. Holotype female, Western Australia, Geikie Gorge, near Fitzroy Crossing , from hard leaves of Triodia sp., 27.ii.2005 ( LAM 4624 ).

Paratypes: 5 females taken with holotype.

Comments. Four males were taken with the females listed above, but at present it is not possible to distinguish the males of this species from those of M. masamii with which they were also collected. This species is closely related to M. melinus and M. williei , but is distinguished by the colour of the antennae and tergite IX, as well as the shorter pronotal setae. In the holotype, one of the metanotal median setae is displaced and arises far behind the anterior margin.

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.