Print Fact SheetAeolothrips terrestris

Distinguishing features

Described from 16 specimens taken at various localities in northern California, this species is apparently similar to the brown form of Aeolothrips auricestus. It was described as having shorter antennae with the second antennal segment brown, but in the available specimens of A. auricestus the color of this segment varies from yellow to brown.

Related species

This is one of four species of Aeolothrips with short-winged adults that are known from California. A. albicinctus and A. auricestus are both bicolored, whereas A. clarus and A. terrestris are both uniformly brown. About 105 species are placed currently in the genus Aeolothrips. Most of these are from the Palaearctic Region (including the Mediterranean, Iran and northern India, but with five species extending through eastern Africa to South Africa), with about 30 species from the Nearctic (mainly western USA). Only one species of this genus is known from the Neotropics, A. fasciatipennis described from Chile, but Mound & Marullo (1996) indicate this is probably the same as A. fasciatus.

Biological data

Collected mainly from grasses., and presumably a predator of other small arthropods at ground level.

Distribution data

California

Family name

AEOLOTHRIPIDAE

Species name

Aeolothrips terrestris Bailey

Original name and synonyms

Aeolothrips terrestris Bailey, 1951: 64

References

Bailey SF (1951) The genus Aeolothrips Haliday in North America. Hilgardia 21: 43–80.

Mound LA & Marullo R (1996) The Thrips of Central and South America: An Introduction. Memoirs on Entomology, International 6: 1–488.