Neohydatothrips amygdali Minaei

(Figs 16–24, 36–37, 40)

Neohydatothrips amygdali Minaei, 2016: 371 .

This species was described from Iran and is the only member of Neohydatothrips species with one pair of discal setae on tergite IX (Minaei 2016). All other species in this genus have 2–3 pairs of discal setae on tergite IX (Lima & Mound 2016b). Individuals of this species recorded from Saudi Arabia show some variation from those of Iranian populations: posteromarginal comb is complete on abdominal tergite VIII, and laterally on VII, also all the coxae and the distal half of hind femora are brown, with the tarsi pale. In contrast, abdominal tergites VII–VIII in Iranian populations are without posteromarginal comb or with only very weak teeth. All legs are yellow except brown tarsi (Minaei 2016). The male of this species is reported here for the first time. It is similar to females in general appearance and structural details, but smaller in size (Fig. 37), tergite IX without drepanae (Fig. 22). Sternites without pore plates.

Measurements (male macroptera): Total body length 760, head length 85, width 158; ocellar setae pair III 11; pronotum length 62, width 195; metanotum median setae 32; fore wing length 645; antennal segments I–VIII, 22, 32, 42, 35, 35, 33, 5, 8.

Larvae II. Body yellow without trace of shading (Fig. 40); antennae 7 segmented, segment I yellow, II–VII grey. All dorsal setae brown and broad, expended (about two times as wide as base) and dentate at apex arising from brown wring (Fig. 23). Length of setae 10–15 excluding basal ring, width at apex 8–10, width at base of setae 4.

Material studied. SAUDI ARABIA, Riyadh, Dirab, King Saudi University Educational farm, 31 females, 14 males and 7 Larvae, from leaves of Acacia seyal, 2–8.vii.2020, (24°24.525’N 46°39.718’E Alt. 575 m), BT, Rasool, I.; 4 females 1 male and 1 larva same data except from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana; 1 female same data except from A. etbaica; 2 females same locality except A. seyal, except 09.vi.2020, (24°25.223’N 46°39.252’E Alt. 574 m), SW, (Soliman, A.) ; Riyadh, Al-Deri’yya, Al Oyayna, Bodha park, 1 female, from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, 2.iv.2019, (24°53.549’N 46°17.459’E Alt. 755 m), BT, Rasool, I .; Riyadh, Al Dawadmi, Ash, shura, 2 females 1 male from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, (24°15.734’N 44°10.542’E Alt. 951 m), BT, (Rasool, I.); Al Baha, Al Makhwa, Al Hamadan, Wadi Riyan, 3 females from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, 7.iv.2019, (19°50.428’N 41°22.573’E, Alt. 491 m), BT; Al Makhwa, Nawan, near sea, 4 females, from leaves of A. ehrenbergiana, 10.iv.2019, (19°32.778’N 41°11.706’E, Alt. 817 m), BT, (Rasool, I.); Aqiq, Wadi Liyan, 1 female from Acacia sp., 23.ix.2020, (20°08.573’N 41°35.551’E Alt. 1689 m), BT; Qilwah, Ramziyah, Wadi Aleep, 2 females from Acacia spp. 25.ix.2020, (19°54.353’N 41°07.148’E 250 m), BT; Shada Al Ala, Qarwiya, 1 female from Acacia sp. 26.ix.2020, (19°54.461’N 41°16.944’E Alt. 520 m), BT, (Rasool. I. & Habib, M.M.) (KSMA) .

Comments. In Iran, this species was collected only from leaves of Mygdalus scoparia (Minaei 2016), whereas in Saudi Arabia it was collected throughout the year across Riyadh and Al Baha only on Acacia sp.