Compsothrips jacksoni

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Both sexes wingless. Body and legs dark brown, abdominal segment I and posterior margin of metathorax almost white, abdominal segment V with white mark posterolaterally; mid and hind femora lighter brown, antennal segments I–III mainly whitish-yellow. Head much longer than wide, cheeks convex and constricted to basal reticulate neck; compound eyes narrowed and prolonged on ventral surface; maxillary stylets retracted to postocular setae, wide apart and V-shaped in head. Pronotum with 3–4 pairs of rather short major setae, midlaterals not developed; prosternal basantra and ferna well developed, mesoeusternal border narrow no wider than interantennal projection. Fore tarsus with tooth. Metanotum sharply elevated medially, with concentric reticulation. Abdominal tergite I (pelta) fully transverse, partially fused to tergite II laterally; tergite IX setae S1 acute, about as long as tube.

Male with fore tarsal tooth large, fore femora expanded and L-shaped; tergite IX setae S1 and S2 equal in size.

Related and similar species

A total of 27 species are listed in the genus Compsothrips, mainly in tropical countries but with seven described from North America. Of these seven, C. hookeri is widespread across the southern States from Florida to California, two species are from Florida, and four species are from various Western States. These species differ in the color of the basal antennal segments, but given that they are all wingless ant-mimics there must be considerable scope for studies on their behavior, as well as their inter-population variation using molecular data. C. jacksoni has the basal three antennal segments mainly yellow, and the body is dark in color.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Compsothrips jacksoni (Hood)

Original name and synonyms

• Oedaleothrips jacksoni Hood, 1925: 137
• Compsothrips hubbelli Watson, 1931: 341

Family placement

Phlaeothripidae, Idolothripinae

Biological data

Life history

Ant mimic, living at ground level

Host plants

Imbibing spores of unidentified fungi.

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage

None

Distribution data

Area of origin

Western USA

Distribution

California, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, South Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma