Aliceathrips sorghi, Mound, Laurence A., 2011

Mound, Laurence A., 2011, Grass-dependent Thysanoptera of the family Thripidae from Australia, Zootaxa 3064, pp. 1-40 : 12

Aliceathrips sorghi sp.n.

( Figs 17–18 )

Female macroptera. Body and legs yellow, abdominal segments IX–X uniformly shaded light brown, fore femora weakly shaded on external margin; antennal segment I white, II light brown, III–IV pale with apex variably weakly shaded, V mainly light brown, VI–VIII brown; fore wings and major setae pale including median dorsal setae on IX. With the character states in the generic diagnosis; antennae 8-segmented, III–IV with sensorium simple, III relatively short. Ocellar setae III at least 2.0 as long as an ocellus. Pronotal posteroangular setae almost 2.0 times as long as antennal segment III; prosternal ferna weakly continuous medially; metanotum with weak longitudinal sculpture; mesosternal anterior margin with about 8 setae; tergite IX median dorsal setae not stout, extending just beyond posterior margin, posterior pair I slightly shorter than pair II; X with median split complete; sternite II with 0–3 discal setae, III–VII with 5–9 discal setae, on VII relatively long ( Fig. 17 )..

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1230. Head length 110; width across eyes 110; ocellar setae III 30. Pronotum, length 115; pa inner setae 55; pa outer setae 60. Fore wing length 530. Metanotal median setae 25. Tergite IX median dorsal setae 45; marginal setae S1 100; S2 110. Tergite X setae S1 85. Antennal segments III–VIII length 30, 25, 30, 45, 8, 10.

Male macroptera. Smaller and paler than female; tergite IX with pair of short straight, setiform processes ( Fig. 18 ); sternites III–V with transverse pore plate on antecostal area.

Material studied. Holotype female, Western Australia, Kununurra, from Sorghum young plants, 26.ii.2005 (LAM4616).

Paratypes: 17 females, 6 males taken with holotype.

Comments. The females of this species have unusually short antennae, and the males have a pair of short, setiform processes on the posterior margin of the ninth tergite.

Figures

FIGURES 11 – 22. Aliceathrips spp. A. mnestes 11 – 16: (11 – 12) male tergites VIII – IX; (13) meso & metanota; (14) pronotum; (15) tergites VII – IX; (16) antenna. A. sorghi 17 – 18: (17) sternites V – VII; (18) male tergites VIII – IX. A. palmeri 19 – 22: (19) head & thorax; (20) tergites VIII – X; (21) male tergites VIII – IX; (22) male sternites V – VII.