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