Leptothrips oribates
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
This species has not been studied by the present authors, but see Johansen (1987: 54-55).
Related and similar species
In the genus Leptothrips 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 in this genus, 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 . In particular, L. brevicapitis is probably the same species as L. oribates, these two having been collected together at two widely separate sites. The problem is that many Leptothrips 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 oribates Hood
Original name and synonyms
Leptothrips oribates Hood, 1939: 205
Leptothrips oregonensis Hood, 1939: 213
Family placement
Phlaeothripidae, Phlaeothripinae
Biological data
Life history
Presumably predatory on small arthropods
Host plants
No precise information available, but presumably predatory and collected from the leaves of both Pinus and Quercus (Johansen, 1987: 55).
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
None
Distribution data
Area of origin
Western USA
Distribution
California, Oregon, Arizona, Mexico, Colorado, New Mexico.