Acanthothrips argentifer
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
This species has not been studied by the present authors. It was described as having reticulate sculpture, apparently similar to that of A. nodicornis , but with two pairs of well-developed setae on the prothoracic epimera of which the inner pair is about half as long as the outer pair.
Related and similar species
The genus Acanthothrips includes 13 species, of which one is Holarctic, five are described from North America, six are from the Neotropics including Mexico, and one is from Japan. Priesner (1964) distinguished this genus from the wordwide genus Hoplandrothrips on the basis that the forewings are parallel sided. Although this is true of A. nodicornis , the forewings of A. albivittatus and A. argentifer are constricted medially at least as much as in some species of Hoplandrothrips. The antennae of A. albivittatus are uniformly dark, whereas the median antennal segments are largely yellow in the other two species recorded from California. Specimens of A. argentifer have not been studied, but this was described as being reticulate like A. nodicornis , although in contrast to that species the females were described as having the fore tarsus "with a very small tooth".
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Acanthothrips argentifer (Cott)
Original name and synonyms
Notothrips argentifer Cott, 1956: 141
Family placement
Phlaeothripidae, Phlaeothripinae
Biological data
Life history
Breeding on dead branches
Host plants
Unidentified fungal hyphae on dead branches of willow (Salix).
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
None
Distribution data
Area of origin
Presumably North America
Distribution
California