Poecilothrips dens
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
This species has not been studied by the present authors.
Related and similar species
The genus Poecilothrips currently includes three species; P. albopictus is widespread, one species is from South Africa, and P. dens Moulton is from California. This third species is known from only two specimens (Cott, 1956) and, since the metanotum is longitudinally reticulate rather than striate (Mound & Marullo, 1996), it is possibly not closely related.
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Poecilothrips dens (Moulton)
Original name and synonyms
Trichothrips dens Moulton, 1907: 60
Family placement
Phlaeothripidae, Phlaeothripinae
Biological data
Life history
Not known, possibly breeding on dead branches
Host plants
Presumably feeding on fungal hyphae on dead branches.
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
None
Distribution data
Area of origin
Western USA
Distribution
California