Ecacanthothrips leai Moulton

(Figs 9–11, 93–101)

Ecacanthothrips leai Moulton, 1947: 176.

E. leai was described based on one damaged female taken from Kuala Lumpur, Peninsular Malaysia. Palmer and Mound (1978) recorded under this name from Java, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Ryukyu Islands in addition to Peninsular Malaysia. Subsequently, however, Okajima (1983) discriminated the specimens from the Ryukyus, southern Japan, as a distinct species, E. moundi. This species is included in the inarmatus -group, and exhibits conspicuous variation. A long series of females and males of leai listed below have been examined from several sites of Peninsular Malaysia, at least one site is near the type locality, and its intraspecific variation associated with allometric growth has been understood in detail, although geographical variation has not been clarified yet. According to Palmer and Mound (1978), this species shows somewhat confused geographical variation in the length of head, the comparative length of anteromarginal and anteroangular setae in large male, and in the colour of tibiae. However, it is difficult to know whether these local populations contain additional distinct species or not. Furthermore, even within Peninsular Malaysia, there are slight variations between local populations in the colour of antennae and tibiae. The specimens from mountainous areas have the antennal segment III somewhat darker, yellowish brown, and the tibiae scarcely shaded with brown, whereas the specimens from lowlands have the antennal segment III paler, brownish yellow, and the tibiae usually clear yellow. Three females and seven males from Bali Is., Indonesia, have mid and hind tibiae brownish. Nine females and seven males from Borneo have the heads rather distinctly reticulate. Two males from Sumatra and Sulawesi, Indonesia, listed in the doubtful specimens below have longer head proportions, which are more than 1.5 times as long as wide, and one female and four males from mountainous area of Bali Is. are exceptionally small, 1.8–2.4 mm. The difference between leai and moundi is discussed under moundi.

Diagnosis. Body brown to dark brown, all tibiae yellow, antennal segments IV–VI with base yellowish. Female. Body length 2.5–3.6mm. Head (Fig. 93) 1.2–1.3 times as long as wide, dorsal surface reticulate, but the reticles weak along midline, cheeks distinctly constricted just behind eyes. Antennae (Fig. 95) about 2.0 times as long as head; segment VIII distinctly constricted basally, pedicellate; segment V without distinct apical neck, shorter than segment IV. Pronotal pa the longest, aa and am setae subequal in small female, aa and ml elongate in large female. Fore wing with 11–19 duplicated cilia. Pelta (Fig. 97) bell-shaped. Tube (Fig. 100) 0.55–0.56 times as long as head. Male. Body length 2.2–3.2mm. Head (Fig. 94) 1.23–1.40 times as long as wide, dorsal surface scarcely sculptured; cheeks each with two or three stout setae in large male. Pronotal aa, ml and pa setae elongate, but am reduced in large male. Fore tibia with sub-basal inner tubercle in large male. Fore wing with 11–22 duplicated cilia. Tube 0.51–0.54 times as long as head.

Specimens examined. Peninsular Malaysia, Gnung Tengkolok, 9 females and 6 males, on dead leaves and branches, 27.v.1983, T. Senoh; Cameron Highland, Tanah Rata, 2 females, on dead branches, 24.vii.1976, SO, same locality above, 1 female and 3 males, 8.v.1981, W. Suzuki; Cameron Highland, nr. Brinchang, 79 females and 48 males, on dead leaves and branches, 25–27.viii.1990, TN & SO; Cameron Highland, nr. Tanah Rata, Robinson water fall, 9 females and 1 male, on dead leaves and branches, 28.viii.1990, TN & SO; Cameron Highland, nr. Tanah Rata, 5 females and 1 male, on dead leaves and branches, 29.viii.1990, TN & SO; Cameron Highland, foot of Gnung Jasar, 17 females and 2 males, on dead leaves and branches, 29.viii.1990, TN & SO; about 20km N from Kuala Lumpur, Templer Park, 33 females and 28 males, 12–15.viii.1990, TN & SO; Fraser’s Hill, 1 female and 5 males, on dead leaves and branches, 13–14.ix.1990, TN & SO. Borneo, Sabah, about 3km N from Kundasang, 9 females and 7 males, on dead leaves and branches, 6.ix.1990, TN & SO. Indonesia, E. Java, Mt Arjuna, 1400–1600m alt., 1 male, on dead leaves, 19.iv.1981, T. Senoh; Bali Is., Buleleng, Yehketipat, 3 females and 7 males, 8.iii.2005, SO.

Doubtful specimens. Indonesia, Sumatra, nr. Toba lake, 1 female and 1 male, 4.v.1990. H. Matsumoto; Sulawesi, Talaud, Karakelong Is., Ponto, 1 male, 30.vii.1979, N. Kashiwai; Bali Is., Candi Kuning, alt. about 1200m, 1 female and 4 males, 26.vii.1984, SO.