Proscirtothrips zeae

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Females commonly without any wings or ocelli, also both sexes fully winged. Body and legs yellow, distal antennal segments light brown. Head longer than wide, slightly overhanging bases of antennae; three pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III prominent; compound eyes with six pigmented ommatidia. Antennae 9-segmented; sensorium simple on segment III, forked on IV. Pronotum with one pair of prominent posteroangular setae. Mesonotum transverse, with group of about six small setae laterally in wingless form. Metanotum transverse, no campaniform sensilla. Abdominal tergites with transverse reticulation, median setae wide apart; tergite VIII with complete comb of short irregular microtrichia. Sternites without discal setae.

Related and similar species

The genus Proscirtothrips includes only one species, although this has three junior synonyms. This has the general appearance of an Anaphothrips species, but with one pair of prominent pronotal posteroangular setae.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Proscirtothrips zeae (Moulton)

Original name and synonyms

Anaphothrips zeae Moulton, 1911: 28
Anaphothrips longipennis Crawford DL, 1910: 150
Anaphothrips hesperus Moulton, 1911: 17
Scirtothrips crawfordi Priesner, 1932: 152 [replacement name]

Family placement

Thripidae, Thripinae

Biological data

Life history

Presumably breeding on leaves

Host plants

Probably Poaceae

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage