Merothrips meridionalis Cavalleri, Lindner & O'Donnell 2019: 279.
Original Reference: Cavalleri A, Lindner MF & O’Donnell CA (2019) Merothrips meridionalis sp.n. (Thysanoptera: Merothripidae), a new fungivorous species from subtropical South America. Zootaxa 4668(2): 277–282.
Body uniformly brown, including antennae. Head with one pair of long ocellar setae, as well as one pair of well-developed postocular setae. Antennae 8-segmented; antennomeres III & IV with small sensoria at apex, sometimes barely visible. Pronotum wider posteriorly, with a few lines of sculpture on posterior area and only one pair of long posteroangular setae. Meso & metathoracic spinula present. Mesonotum with a pair of short setae arising laterally; metanotum with weak sculpture medially; paired campaniform sensilla present; median pair of setae arising close to posterior margin. Tarsi 2-segmented. Abdominal tergites without microtrichia and X without trichobothria. Sternites III–VII with only a few discal setae; ovipositor weakly developed. Female and male apterous.
Male smaller, with a tubercle on fore tibiae and a pore plate dorsally on head.
Intraspecific variation
Not recorded.
Genus and similar species information
Merothrips includes 15 extant species, many of them described from the Neotropics. They all have antennae 8-segmented and the transverse sensoria on segments III & IV are sometimes slightly inflated. Many species are known only from apterous forms. Merothrips meridionalis is very similar to other apterous species such as M. brunneus and M. nigricornis, but it is distinguished by the absence of trichobothria on tergite X and for the small size of the mesonotal lateral setae. A key to Merothrips species is given by Mound & O’Neill (1974).
Lives on dead branches, and possibly feeds on fungal hyphae.
Economic importance
Not recorded.
Suggested references
Cavalleri A, Lindner MF & O’Donnell CA (2019) Merothrips meridionalis sp.n. (Thysanoptera: Merothripidae), a new fungivorous species from subtropical South America. Zootaxa 4668(2): 277–282.
Mound LA & O'Neill K (1974) Taxonomy of the Merothripidae, with ecological and phylogenetic considerations (Thysanoptera). Journal of Natural History 8: 481–509.
Published in: 10/09/2019 Posted by: Mariana Lindner
