Abstract
Aulacothrips amazonicus sp.n. is described from Northern Brazil, with larvae and adults ectoparasitic on ant-tended Membracidae (Hemiptera) on Solanum shrubs. This new taxon differs from its congeners by (i) body distinctively paler; (ii) sensoria on antennal segments III & IV much less convoluted; (iii) male tergite IX posterior margin straight and with several long and stout setae. The possible biological significance of interspecific differences in antennal sensoria among Aulacothrips species is discussed.
References
Alves-Silva, E. & Del-Claro, K. (2011) Ectoparasitism and phoresy in Thysanoptera: the case of Aulacothrips dictyotus (Heterothripidae) in the Neotropical savanna. Journal of Natural History, 45, 393–405.
Cavalleri, A., Kaminski, L.A. & Mendonca Jr., M.S. (2010) Ectoparasitism in Aulacothrips (Thysanoptera: Heterothripidae) revisited: host diversity on honeydew-producing Hemiptera and description of a new species. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 249, 209–221.
Das, P., Chen, L., Sharma, K.R. & Fadamiro, H.Y. (2011) Abundance of antennal chemosensilla in two parasitoid wasps with different degree of host specificity may explain sexual and species differences in their response to host-related volatiles. Microscopy Research and Technique, 74, 900–909.
De Facci, M.; Wellen, R., Hallberb, E. & Anderbrant, O. (2011) Flagellar sensilla of the eusocial gall-inducing thrips Kladothrips intermedius and its kleptoparasite, Koptothrips dyskritus (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae). Arthropod Structure & Development, 40, 495–508.
Del-Claro, K. (1995) Ecologia da interação entre formigas e Guayaquila xiphias (Homoptera: Membracidae) em Didymopanax vinosum (Araliaceae). PhD. Thesis, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, 101 pp.
Del-Claro, K. & Oliveira, P.S. (1999) Ant-Homoptera interactions in a Neotropical savanna: The honeydew-producing treehopper, Guayaquila xiphias (Membracidae), and its associated ant fauna on Didymopanax vinosum (Araliaceae). Biotropica, 31(1), 135–144.
Izzo, T.J., Pinent, S.M.J. & Mound, L.A. (2002) Aulacothrips dictyotus (Heterothripidae), the first ectoparasitic thrips (Thysanoptera). Florida Entomologist, 85, 281–283.
Moritz, G., Morris, D.C. & Mound, L.A. (2001) ThripsID – Pest thrips of the world. An interactive identification and information system. CD-Rom published by ACIAR, Canberra.
Mound, L.A., Heming, B.S. & Palmer, J.M. (1980) Phylogenetic relationships between the families of recent Thysanoptera. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 69, 111–141.
Mound, L.A. & Marullo, R. (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International, 6, 1–488.
Pereyra, V. & Cavalleri, A. (2012) The genus Heterothrips (Thysanoptera) in Brazil, with an identification key and seven new species. Zootaxa, 3237, 1–23.
Ratter, J.A., Ribeiro, J.F. & Bridgewater, S. (1997) The Brazilian cerrado vegetation and threats to its biodiversity. Annals of Botany, 80, 223–230.
Wood, T.K. & Olmstead, K.L. (1984) Latitudinal effects on treehopper species richness (Homoptera: Membracidae). Ecological Entomology, 9, 109–115.