Karnyothrips melaleucus
Creators: name: Okajima, Shûji
name: Masumoto, Masami
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Thysanoptera
Phlaeothripidae
Karnyothrips
Karnyothrips melaleucus

description: Karnyothrips melaleucus (Bagnall)
(Figs 3, 26–27, 134–139)
Hindsiana melaleuca Bagnall, 1911: 61–62.
Karnyothrips melaleuca (Bagnall); Hood, 1927: 176.
This species was originally described from ‘Palm House’ in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is now widely spread mainly in the tropics and subtropics around the world, but extending to the temperate region in Japan. Males are recorded from the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean (zur Strassen, 1993: 452) and Taiwan (Okajima, 2006). Additionally, two males are newly recorded here and listed below from Queensland, Australia, and Java, Indonesia. Therefore, the origin of this species is more likely to be tropical or subtropical Asia. In females, abdominal segment VIII is usually yellowish (Fig. 26), but in males it is largely brownish (Fig. 27). Moreover, the maxillary stylet separation is variable among males (Figs 135–137). Tergite IX S1 setae are very long in this species, usually more than 1.3 times as long as the tube. It is collected frequently from bamboo or grass, but infrequently from dead leafy branches. This species is apparently very similar to K. brevipilosus in color (Figs 15 and 26) and structure. Moreover, these two are sometimes collected together from bamboo in Southeast Asia. It is possible that they have previously often been confused. The differences between them are discussed under brevipilosus.
Diagnosis. Bicolored species (Figs 26 & 27); head, thorax and abdominal segment IX and tube brown, often segment VIII tinged with brown; fore femora, brown with apical half yellowish, often paler; antennal segment I pale brown, segments II–V yellow, VI–VIII pale brown to brown. Antennal segment VIII, conical (Fig. 138), not constricted basally; antennal segments III and IV each with two sense cones. Maxillary stylets close together, 18–22µm apart. Notopleural sutures incomplete. Mesopresternum not divided, narrowly boat-shaped. Tergite IX S1 setae pointed, about 1.3 times as long as tube or longer; terminal setae about 2.0 times as long as tube. Male very similar to female, but abdominal segment VIII darker (Fig 27).
Specimens-examined (There are numerous females and a few males in TUA collection, and these are a part of them. All specimens are macropterae). Australia, 3 females and 1 male, Queensland, Brisbane, Indooroopilly, QDPI, on grass, 7.iii.2006, SO. Indonesia, 3 females, Bali Is., Candi Kuning, alt. about 1200m, on grass, 26.vii.1984, SO; 7 females and 1 male, Java Is., Melanting, Wono-koyo, ca 1150m alt. on grass, 23.viii.2005; 3 females, Flores Is., Ende, Nduaria, 1084m alt., on dead branches, 22.viii.2006, SO. Singapore, Macritchie Park, on Palmae fronds, 3 females, 22.vii.1976, 1 female, 23.vii.1976, 2 females, 3.viii.1976, SO. Peninsular Malaysia, Tapah, 1 female on grass, 1 female on dead leaves, 25.vii.1976, 1 female on dead leaves, 28.vii.1976, SO. Thailand, 3 females, Doi Suthep, 500m alt., on grass, 8.viii.1976, SO; Phuket Is., 2 females on Palmae fronds, 18.vii.1976, 2 females on bamboo, 19.viii.1976, SO. Vietnam, 11 females, Hoa Binh Prov., Hoa Binh, on bamboo, 6.iii.2000, SO; 5 females, Hatay Prov., Mt. Bavi, on bamboo, 29.vii.2000, SO; 1 female, Haquang Dist., Cao Ban Prov., on bamboo, 3.viii.2000, SO; Lam Dong Prov., 2 females, nr. Tuyen Lam Lake, Da Lat, Ward 3, 22.xii.2001, 1 female, Finom Ward, Don Duong, on bamboo, 25.xii.2001, 1 female, same locality and datta as above, but on leaves of Quercus sp. (Fagaceae), 3 females, Bao Loc, Mam Bri, 27.xii.2001, same locality as above, on grass, 22.viii.2007, SO; 1 female, Thua Thien Hue Prov., Phu Loc Dist., Bach Ma Nat. Park, on bamboo, 14.viii.2007, SO; 1 female, Ninh Thuan Prov. Lam Son Dist., Root 27 (Pass 1), 23.viii.2007, SO. The Philippines, 1 female, Mindanao Is., Mt. Apo, Agko, alt. about 1300m, on half dead grass, 1.vii.1979, SO. Taiwan, Pintung Hsien, Kenting Nat. Park, on grass, 2 females, 26.v.1972, 4 females and 1 male, 18.iii.1984, 10 females, 19.iii.1984, on dead branches, 1 female, 19.iii.1984, SO; Kaohsiung Hsien, Liukuei, on dead leaves and branches, 3 females, 4.ix.1993, SO, on dead leaves and branches, 4 females and 1 male, 5.ix.1993, TN & SO; Chiai Hsien, Kuantzulin, on grass, 5 females, 22.viii.1993, TN & SO; Taitung Hsien, Chihpen, on bamboo, 1 female, 10.ix.1993, TN & SO. Japan, many females from both temperate and subtropical areas (see Okajima 2006, p. 393).
description: Published as part of Okajima, Shûji & Masumoto, Masami, 2025, Review of the genus Karnyothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) from Asia between India and Japan, pp. 1-82 in Zootaxa 5578 (1) on pages 47-49, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5578.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/14763175