Leptothrips larreaeLeptothrips larreaeThis species is closely similar in structure to mali, but in contrast to the other members of the mali-group it lacks a sense cone on antennal segment III, and one or both fore wings sometimes lack duplicated cilia.
The genus Leptothrips is related to Haplothrips, but the metanotal sculpture is closely striate not reticulate, and larvae and adults usually have extensive purple internal pigment. Currently, 30 species are listed under Leptothrips, all from the Americas. Johansen (1987) described 22 new species in the genus, with 11 Leptothrips recorded from California. However, Mound & O'Donnell (2017) placed nine species into synonymy and recognised only 15 Leptothrips species from North America of which nine are reported from California. L. larreae is one of the mali-complex, in which females lack a fore tarsal tooth, and the pronotum bears strong transverse sulptured striae.
Associated with Larrea tridentata [Zygophyllaceae], this species probably feeds on mites within cecidomyiid galls on this plant (Wiesenborn, 2015).
Recorded from California, and Arizona.
PHLAEOTHRIPIDAE, PHLAEOTHRIPINAE
Leptothrips larreae Hood
Leptothrips larreae Hood, 1939: 207
Johansen RM (1987) El genero Leptothrips Hood, 1909 (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) en el continente Americano: su sistematica, filogenia, biogeografia, biologia, conducta y ecologia. Monografias del Instituto de Biologia. Universidad Nacional de Mexico 3: 1–246.
Mound LA & O’Donnell CA (2017) Predation, phytophagy and character state confusion among North American species of the genus Leptothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripinae). Zootaxa 4294 (3): 301–315.
Wiesenborn WD (2015) Phenology of Leptothrips larreae Hood, 1938 (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Asphondylia auripila Felt, 1908 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) creosote stem galls. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 91 (2): 203–206.
