Distinguishing features

This species has not been studied by the present authors. It is one of the species in the genus Heterothrips that has small lobes laterally on the posterior margin of the abdominal tergites, each lobe bearing a prominent fringe of microtrichia, as in H. pectinifer.

Related species

H. salicis is very similar in structure to H. aesculi Watson from eastern USA. More than 75 species are currently listed in Heterothrips, and these are found widely between New York and Argentina. These species are likely to demonstrate a high level of host specificity, but good field data has yet to be collected. The family Heterothripidae includes only four genera, all from the Americas.

Biological data

Breeding in willow catkins, Salix spp. [Salicaceae].

Distribution data

Recorded from California, Michigan and Illinois.

Family name

HETEROTHRIPIDAE

Species name

Heterothrips salicis Shull

Original name and synonyms

Heterothrips salicis Shull, 1909: 220

References

Bailey SF & Cott HE (1954) A review of the genus Heterothrips Hood (Thysanoptera: Heterothripidae) in North America, with descriptions of two new species. Annals of the entomological Society of America 47: 614–635.

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