Distinguishing features

This species has not been studied by the present authors, but see Cott, 1956: 86-88.

Related species

Cott (1956) distinguished the three species of Bagnalliella recorded from California on the following basis: B. yuccae has two sense cones on antennal segment III and four on IV; B. mojave Hood has one sense cone on antennal segment III and two on IV; B. desertae Hood has one sense cone on antennal segment III and three (? four) on IV. Despite this, variation in the number of these sense cones within and between populations requires further study. Tree (2010) noted that in a population of B. yuccae introduced to Australia the number of sense cones on antennal segment III varied from 2–3, and the number on segment IV varied from 2–4. Nine species are listed in the genus, seven being from Yucca plants in southwestern USA, and these are clearly closely related to each other in structure. In contrast, the other two (from New Guinea and South Africa) should probably be placed in other genera. B. yuccae has been distributed widely around the world in association with its cultivated host-plant. 

Biological data

Breeding on leaves of Yucca schidigera [Agavaceae].

Distribution data

Known only from California and Arizona.

Family name

PHLAEOTHRIPIDAE, PHLAEOTHRIPINAE

Species name

Bagnalliella desertae Hood

Original name and synonyms

Bagnalliella desertae Hood, 1927: 201.

References

Cott HE (1956) Systematics of the suborder Tubulifera (Thysanoptera) in California. University of California, Berkeley, Publications in Entomology 13: 1–216.

Tree DJ (2010) Intrapopulation Variation in an Australian Population of the North American Thrips, Bagnalliella yuccae (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), A New Record from Australia. Florida Entomologist 93: 346–351.