Aeolothrips clarus
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
The available specimens of this species are not in a suitable condition to prepare a detailed description. Judging from the description it is similar to the brown form of A. auricestus , and apparently differs from A. terrestris in having the forewing lobe even shorter.
Related and similar species
This is one of four species of Aeolothrips with short-winged adults that are known from California: A. albicinctus and A. auricestus are both bicolored, although the second of these is commonly brown, whereas A. clarus and A. terrestris are both uniformly brown. Just over 90 species are placed currently in the genus Aeolothrips, of which more than 50 are from the Palaearctic Region (mainly Europe), and 28 from the Nearctic (mainly western USA). Only two species are recorded from the Neotropics; the one from Chile is probably the same as A. fasciatus , and one from Panama is probably not a member of this genus (Mound & Marullo, 1996).
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Aeolothrips clarus Bailey
Original name and synonyms
Aeolothrips clarus Bailey, 1951: 53
Family placement
Aeolothripidae
Biological data
Life history
Presumably predatory at ground level, as is A. albicinctus and its relatives all of which are known only from short-winged adults of both sexes.
Host plants
Most specimens have been taken on grasses.
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
None
Distribution data
Area of origin
Western USA
Distribution
California