Leptothrips fasciculatus

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Both sexes fully winged. Body and legs brown, antennal segment III pedicel paler; major setae brown; forewings pale, scarcely shaded at base. Head distinctly longer than wide; eyes not prolonged ventrally; postocular setae pointed, almost equal to eye length. Antennae 8-segmented; segment III with one sensorium, IV with four sensoria, VIII short and broad at base. Pronotum with five pairs of pointed major setae; prosternal basantra and ferna present, mesopraesternum reduced to paired lateral triangles. Fore tarsus with small pointed tooth. Metanotum closely striate medially. Forewing constricted medially, without duplicated cilia. Tergite IX setae S1 pointed, as long as tube. Male similar, fore tarsal tooth larger; tergite IX setae S2 short and stout; sternite VIII without a glandular area; pseudovirga of aedeagus slender.

Related and similar species

The genus Leptothrips is related to Haplothrips, but the metanotal sculpture is closely striate not reticulate, and larvae and adults usually have extensive purple internal pigment. In total, 41 species are listed currently under Leptothrips, all from the Americas. Johansen (1987), in describing 22 of these as new species, recorded 11 Leptothrips from California, although only seven were listed by Hoddle et al. (2004). The validity of some of the species in the genus remains questionable, as discussed here under L. mali . The problem is that many of these species were differentiated on character states that are very difficult to observe on their type specimens because these are poor quality slide-mounts. Moreover, there is little recorded habitat segregation between several of the nominal species, given that they are all considered to be predators of other arthropods.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Leptothrips fasciculatus (Crawford DL)

Original name and synonyms

Phyllothrips fasciculatus Crawford DL, 1909: 105
Phyllothrips stenoceps Crawford DL, 1909: 108
Anthothrips nigricornis Jones, 1912: 17
Haplothrips jonesi Karny, 1912: 344
Leptothrips russelli Morgan, 1913: 39

Family placement

Phlaeothripidae, Phlaeothripinae

Biological data

Life history

Presumably predatory on small arthropods living on desert shrubs

Host plants

Associated with Eriogonum fasciculatum (Polygonaceae).

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage