Xyphandrothrips conjunctus, Okajima & Masumoto, 2025

Xyphandrothrips conjunctus sp. nov.

( Figs 351 View FIGURES 349–358 , 374–381 View FIGURES 374–381 )

Female (macroptera). Distended body length: 1.4–1.5mm. Body brown ( Fig. 351 View FIGURES 349–358 ), but abdomen somewhat paler. Fore femora brown, mid femora brown with apex paler, hind femora pale brown with base paler; tibiae pale brown, mid and hind tibiae with apices yellowish; tarsi yellow. Antennal segments I and IV – VIII brown, but IV with extreme base yellowish; segment II brownish yellow, segment III yellow. Fore wings scarcely shaded with pale brown, but basal one-third pale. Major body setae pale. Head ( Fig. 374 View FIGURES 374–381 ) a little longer than wide, about 1.1 times as long as wide, 1.13 times in holotype; dorsal surface weakly sculptured with transverse striae, sculpture somewhat distinct between postocular setae. Cheeks very weakly rounded, gradually narrowed to base, serrated. Eyes about 0.3 times as long as head. Posterior ocelli slightly separated from eyes, about 30µm apart from each other in holotype. Postocular setae much shorter than eyes, expanded; about 100µm apart from each other, 8–9µm apart from eyes in holotype. Antennae ( Fig. 381 View FIGURES 374–381 ) short, about 1.7 times as long as head, 1.69 times in holotype; segment VIII conical, not constricted at base, widely and closely joined to segment VII; segment III almost symmetrical, truncated at apex, shorter than IV, almost as long as VII; segment IV the largest; segments III and IV with two (1+1) and four (2+2 +1) sense cones respectively. Maxillary stylets retracted to eyes, sub-parallel at middle, their distance about one-fifth of head width, or a little narrower; maxillary bridge weak. Pronotum ( Fig. 374 View FIGURES 374–381 ) more than 0.6 times as long as head, 0.66 times in holotype, 1.6–1.7 times as wide as long, 1.65 times in holotype; almost smooth, median apodeme very weak; five pairs of prothoracic setae expanded; am and aa subequal in length, ml and pa subequal, epim a little longer than pa and postocular setae. Prospinasternum ( Fig. 376 View FIGURES 374–381 ) largely developed, widely fan-shaped, about 45µm wide in holotype; mesopresternum narrowly boat-shaped or almost separated into lateral triangle plates. Mesonotal lateral setae developed, expanded. Metanotum weakly sculptured with reticulation; median pair of setae pointed, about 20µm, distance between both median setae wider than distance between each seta and anterior margin of metanotum, 40µm apart from each other, 28µm apart from anterior margin in holotype. Fore tarsal tooth long and slender ( Fig. 378 View FIGURES 374–381 ); fore tibia with a sub-apical seta-bearing inner small tubercle. Fore wing with 3–5 duplicated cilia, 4 in holotype; three sub-basal setae relatively short, subequal in length, expanded, S3 slender. Pelta ( Fig. 377 View FIGURES 374–381 ) trapezoid with irregular lateral margins, 1.47 times as wide as long in holotype. Tergites III – VIII S2 setae: III – VI expanded, VII pointed, VIII blunt or very weakly expanded. Tergite IX S1 setae blunt or very weakly expanded, shorter than tube, S2 sharply pointed, longer than S1, almost as long as tube, or longer; intermediate setae longer than half of Sl. Tube much shorter than 0.5 times as long as head, 0.44 times in holotype, about 1.7 times as long as wide; terminal setae about 1.4 times as long as tube .

Measurements (holotype female in µm). Body length 1450 (distended). Head length 167, from anterior margin of eyes 157, width across eyes 136, maximum width across cheeks 148, minimum width across base 120; eyes length 50; diameter of posterior ocelli 8–12; postocular setae 25. Maxillary bridge width 28. Antenna total length 283, segments III–VIII length (width) as follows: 35 (23), 41 (27), 38 (24), 37 (22), 35 (20), 19 (13). Pronotum length 110, width 182. Setae on prothorax: am 22–23, aa 23–24, ml 28–30, pa 30, epim 33–34. Fore wing length 560. Sub-basal wing setae: S1 24 –25, S2 23 –25, S3 25. Pelta length 53, width 78. Tergite IX setae: S1 60 –62, S2 76–80. Tube length 74, maximum width 43; terminal setae 105.

Male (macroptera). Distended body length: 1.2–1.3mm. Very similar to macropterous female in structure, but showing allometric growth. Abdomen usually paler, often largely yellowish. Large male: prothorax and fore legs enlarged ( Fig. 375 View FIGURES 374–381 ). Tip of pseudovirga rounded, 12µm wide.

Measurements (paratype male in µm). Body length 1330 (distended). Head length 178, from anterior margin of eyes 164, width across eyes 132, maximum width across cheeks 142, minimum width across base 108; eyes length 55; diameter of posterior ocelli 10–12; postocular setae 30–32. Maxillary bridge width 35. Antenna total length 290, segments III–VIII length as follows: 34, 42, 39, 37, 37, 20. Pronotum length 122, width 175. Setae on prothorax: am 17–20, aa 24–28, ml 30–32, pa 25–30, epim 32–35. Fore wing length 570. Sub-basal wing setae: S1 25 –27, S2 22 –23, S3 23 –25. Pelta length 52, width 67. Tergite IX setae: S1 45 –47, S2 20 –23. Tube length 68, maximum width 41; terminal setae 100.

Type material. Holotype: macropterous female, Taiwan, Nantou Hsien, Nanshanchi , on dead branches, 27.iii.1984, SO . Paratypes: Taiwan, same locality and habitat as in holotype, 2 females and 1 male, 24.iii.1984, 1 male, 25.iii.1984, 1 male, 29.iii.1984, 2 females, 30.iii.1984, SO; Pintung Hsien, Kenting Nat. Park , 18.iii. 1984, 1 male, on dead leaves, 3 females and 2 males, on dead branches, SO .

Comments. This species is somewhat similar to X. amamianus and X. formosae in having antennal segments III and IV with two and four major sense cones respectively. The differences between these species are discussed under amamianus and formosae .