Haplothrips microcephalum Rasool, 2025

Haplothrips microcephalum Rasool sp. nov.

( Figs 38–46 View FIGURES 38–44 View FIGURES 45–46 )

Female macroptera. Body dark brown; antennal segments I–II brown, except apical margin of II yellow, segment III yellow, IV–VIII light brown to brown; fore tibiae also fore and mid legs tarsi yellow; wings clear with brown clavus base of wings; all major body setae yellow, except wing-retaining setae brown.

Head considerably smaller than pronotum, wider at the base, about 1.34 times as wide as long; fore ocelli projecting from anterior margin of head; postocular setae minute and pointed; maxillary stylets retracted to compound eyes, 0.35–0.38 of head width apart medially, with distinct maxillary bridge ( Fig. 38 View FIGURES 38–44 ); Antennae 8-segmented, segment III with single sense cone on outer edge, IV with four sense cones; VIII broad at base and much shorter than VII ( Fig. 40 View FIGURES 38–44 ). Pronotum strongly transverse, with very weak transverse sculpture close to anterior margin, and 5 pairs of major, blunt ended setae developed; pronotum with few minute setae; Mesonotum with transverse reticulation, lateral setae weakly capitate; metanotum reticulate ( Fig. 39 View FIGURES 38–44 ) with fine median setae; prosternum with basantra; mesopresternum eroded medially with two lateral triangles; fore legs with femur enlarged, tarsi with strong tooth; mid and hind legs normal; fore tarsal tooth absent. Fore wing slightly narrowed medially, with three sub-basal capitate setae, arranged in triangle form, S3 longer than S1 and S2; fore wings distal cilia smooth, and without duplicated cilia; pelta sculptured and triangular with two median campaniform sensilla at posterior margin.

Abdominal tergites II–VII each with two pairs of sigmoid wing-retaining setae, III–VII with 3–4 pairs of minute lateral setae in transverse line; sternites III–VII with 20–26 minute setae, arranged in two transverse rows; tergite VIII–IX major setae blunt; tergite IX S1, S2 setae smaller than tube; anal setae pointed and shorter than tube.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 2120. Head, length 165; median width 220; dorsal eye length 70; postocular setae 27, distance between their bases 120. Pronotum, length 125; median width 375; major setae am 35, aa 50, ml 45, epim 70, pa 65. Metanotum median setae 37. Tergite IV major median setae 80; tergite VIII major median setae 60; tergite IX setae S1 97, S2 80. Tube length 138; anal setae 90. Fore wing length 875; sub-basal setae S1 35, S2 40, S3 60. Antennal segments III–VIII length 45, 45, 45, 40, 38, 27.

(Paratype females). Body length 1820–2140. Head, length 150–170; median width 210-225–; dorsal eye length 70–72; postocular setae 20–22, distance between their bases 115–125. Pronotum, length 120–135; median width 360–380; major setae am 27–35, aa 40–53, ml 33–45, epim 60–67, pa 50–53. Metanotum median setae 33–37. Tergite IV major median setae 80–90; tergite VIII major median setae 55–60; tergite IX setae S1 85–95, S2 75–80. Tube length 125–130; anal setae 85–90. Fore wing length 800–875; sub-basal setae S1 33–35, S2 40–40, S3 50–60. Antennal segments III–VIII length 40–45, 42–45, 42–45, 38–40, 38–40, 27 .

Male macroptera. Very similar to female, except head slightly larger; forelegs with rather enlarged femur and strong tarsal tooth; tergite IX setae S2 short and pointed; sternites VIII without pore plate.

Measurements (male in microns). Body length 1840. Head, length 155; width 175; postocular setae 25. Pronotum, length 120; median width 335; major setae am 35, aa 50, ml 45, epim 55, pa 55. Tergite IX setae S1 107, S2 45. Tube length 135,

anal setae 110. Fore wing length 800. Antennal segments III–VIII length. 50, 50, 50, 43, 40, 30.

Etymology. The name is a masculine adjective formed combining the Latin words - Micro “small” and cephalum “head” referring to small head of the species.

Material examined. Holotype female, Saudi Arabia, Asir, Sarat Abida-Al Farasha Rd. from Aerva javanica ( Amaranthaceae ), 10.i.2024, (SW), Soliman A.

Paratypes. 14 females, two males same as holotype; Al Baha . three males from Aerva javanica, Shada Al Aala , 9.iv.2019, (BT).

Comments. The new species is a member of subgenus Trybomiella based on the absence of fore wing duplicated cilia.Amongst 28 species in the subgenus Trybomiella , only three species (i.e H. pallescens , H. talpa and H. tirumalraoi ) have a single sense cone on antennal segment III. The first of these is bicolored, and has incomplete notopleural suture and head longer than wide, and H. tirumalraoi also has head 1.25 times as long as wide and long po setae, projecting across the cheeks. The new species is very close to the African species H. talpa by sharing smooth fore wing distal cilia. However, the new one can be distinguished by the transverse head, 0.75 times as long as wide (length 165, width 220); pronotum distinctly transverse (0.3 times longer than wide) with all major setae blunt ended, midlateral setae present; whole of the metanotum sculptured with equiangular cells; fore legs strongly enlarged, tarsi of all legs yellow (except hind legs tarsus light brown) and antennal segment III as long as IV, V and VI (III–45, IV–45, V–45, VI–43). In contrast, H. talpa , has the head elongate, 1.4 times as long as wide, (length 275, width 197), pronotum narrow (0.6 times longer than wide) with all major setae pointed, midlateral setae absent; metanotum not evenly sculptured, with elongate cells posteriorly; fore legs very little enlarged, at least mid and hind tarsi dark brown, and antennal segment III distinctly shorter than IV, V and VI (III–42, IV–48, V–49 and VI–48) (Priesner 1931)