Heterothrips vitifloridus

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

This species has not been studied by the present authors. It is one of the species in the genus Heterothrips that has small lobes laterally on the posterior margin of the abdominal tergites, each of these lobes bearing a prominent fringe of microtrichia, as in H. pectinifer (Mound & Marullo, 1996: 59). In contrast, H. vitis Hood, a species more common in the eastern States, has the microtrichia arising directly from the margins of the tergites not from separate lobes.

Related and similar species

The family Heterothripidae includes only four genera, all from the Americas. Rather more than 60 species are currently listed in Heterothrips, and these are found widely between New York and Argentina. These species are likely to demonstrate a high level of host specificity, but good field data has yet to be collected.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Heterothrips vitifloridus Bailey & Cott

Original name and synonyms

• Heterothrips vitifloridus Bailey & Cott, 1954: 616

Family placement

Heterothripidae

Biological data

Life history

Flower-living

Host plants

Reported to be associated with Vitis spp. (Vitaceae)

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage

None

Distribution data

Area of origin

Western USA

Distribution

California