Arpediothrips mojaveArpediothrips mojaveFemale with wings fully developed, but adults are more commonly de-alate with wing stubs shorter than thorax width (Wiesenborn, 2016). Body legs and antennae mainly yellow, with weak shadings. Antennae 8-segmented; segments III & IV each with small forked sense cone. Head much broader than long, flattened dorsoventrally; 3 pairs of small ocellar setae present, pair III anteromesad of posterior ocelli; ventrally strongly asymmetric with large mandible and massive mouth cone. Pronotum without long setae, 2 pairs of posteroangular setae slightly longer than discal setae; posterior margin with pair of minor setae medially between the major pair. Metanotal median setae small, arising close to anterior margin; campaniform sensilla absent. Fore wing with two complete rows of veinal setae. Abdominal tergites with median setae small and wide apart; tergite VIII sometimes with rudimentary ctenidia anterolateral to spiracle, similarly weak ctenidia on VII; posterior margin of VIII with no comb. Sternites with no discal setae.
Only two species are described in the genus Arpediothrips, but the significance of the second species, A. mexicanus Moulton, requires further study as it also lives on Yucca. The genus is closely related to Frankliniella in the following character states: weak ctenidia present anterolateral to the spiracle on the eighth abdominal tergite; fore wing with two rows of setae; pronotal posterior margin with pair of minor setae between the pair of median major setae. It differs in the superficial character states of the broad head and short pronotal setae.
Living on the leaves of Yucca brevifolia, Y. schidigera, and possibly other Yucca species [Agavaceae] (Wiesenborn, 2000, 2001, 2006).
Recorded from California, Arizona and Nevada.
THRIPIDAE - THRIPINAE
Arpediothrips mojave Hood
Arpediothrips mojave Hood, 1927: 198
Wiesenborn WD (2000) Desiccation susceptibility of the desert brachypterous thrips Arpediothrips mojave Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 76: 109–114.
Wiesenborn WD (2001) Phenological and spatial associations among wing morphs and sexes of adult Arpediothrips mojave Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 74: 205–210.
Wiesenborn WD (2006) Host use of sympatric Yucca species by Arpediothrips mojave Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 82: 105–108.
Wiesenborn WD (2016) Arpediothrips mojave Hood, 1927 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) brachypters are dealated macropters lacking flight muscles and with longer pronota. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 92(3): 157–164.
