Heterothrips albipennis sp. n.

Female winged. Body brown; femora extensively brown (Fig. 66); fore tibia largely yellow with light brown markings, mid & hind tibia brown medially and yellow at base and apex; tarsi pale; antennal segment I–II and V–IX brown, II paler apically; III yellowish; IV shaded brown (Fig. 62); fore wing pale but weakly shaded brown apically (Fig. 64).

Head wider than long, with no long setae, ocellar region with only two pairs of setae (Fig. 59). Antennae 9- segmented, segment III composed of four parts, segment IV entire and shorter than III (Figs 62–63), both segments with one row of aligned sensoria at apex. Pronotum broadly reticulate, with no long setae and bearing about 25 discal setae (Fig. 60); mesonotum with transversely elongate reticles; metanotum with concentric lines of sculpture, not forming a triangle and covered with microtrichia (Fig. 61). Fore wing with two rows of conspicuous and hyaline setae.

Abdominal tergites I–VIII with independent fringe of microtrichia posteriorly; well developed laterally on I–V but bearing only few teeth medially; lateral thirds covered with irregular lines of sculpture bearing fine microtrichia (Fig. 65). Sternites without craspeda, with 8 pairs of posteromarginal setae; discal setae absent on I–VI.

Measurements (holotype female in microns). Body length 1450 (distended). Head, length 102; width 167. Pronotum, length 140; width 232. Fore wing length 750; median width 47; Abdominal tergites IX and X length 85, 83. Antennal segments I–IX length (width), 13 (30), 35 (25), 67 (25), 40 (22), 35 (20), 35 (18), 22 (12), 12 (10), 12 (8).

Male winged. Similar to female in coloration but smaller; sternites VII–VIII each with a large transverse pore plate at antecostal ridge (Fig. 67); VI sometimes with a very small circular pore plate.

Measurements (paratype male in microns). Body length 1130 (distended). Head, length 100; width 150. Pronotum, length 137; width 215. Fore wing length 660; median width 45; Abdominal segments IX + X length 188; width 165.

Material examined. Holotype female, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Viamão, (30º21’45”S, 51º01’55”W), 17.ix.2004, on Croton gnaphalii flowers (A. Cavalleri). Paratypes: 5 females, 11 males collected with holotype; 1 female with similar data but 20.vi.2003.

Comments. This species is closely related to peixotoa in having fore wings largely pale and lacking ocellar setae I on head. However, it can be distinguished easily by the single row of sensorial pores on antennal segments III–IV. Moreover, albipennis metapleura contrasts with peixotoa in lacking dense rows of microtrichia. This new species is commonly found in female flowers of Croton gnaphalii (Euphorbiaceae) during warm seasons.