Ankothrips gracilis

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Female fully winged. Body and legs largely yellow; antennal segments IV–IX light brown, I–III paler with apex shaded; fore wings clear. Antennae 9-segmented, IX longer than VIII, sensoria transverse on III–IV, segment II apex prolonged ventro-laterally into small serrate lobe. Head with ocellar setae I arising on slightly bifurcate tubercle, setae III arise just within ocellar triangle. Head with one pair of long postocular setae and two shorter pairs. Pronotum trasversely striate, posterior margin with 7–8 pairs of prominent setae, one posteroangular pair at least three times as long as discal setae. Mesonotum closely transversely striate, with no microtrichia on sculpture lines. Metanotum closely longitudinally striate, with no microtrichia, median setae near posterior margin. Abdominal tergite VIII median setae more than 0.7 as long as tergite; tergite X with paired trichobothria well developed. Sternite VII posterior margin with pair of lobes each bearing two setae at base.

Related and similar species

Currently there are 12 species listed in the genus Ankothrips, seven of which are from western USA, with five recorded from California (Bailey, 1957). Of the others, one is from SW Africa, and four from southern or eastern Europe. A. gracilis is distinguished by the closely spaced lines of sculpture on the mesonotum and metanotum that lack microtrichia.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Ankothrips gracilis Moulton

Original name and synonyms

• Ankothrips gracilis Moulton, 1926: 19

Family placement

Melanthripidae

Biological data

Life history

Flower-living, with one generation each year.

Host plants

Bailey (1957: 165) states that this species is widespread along the Californian coastal mountains in the flowers of Adenostoma fasciculatum (Rosaceae).

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage

None

Distribution data

Area of origin

Western USA

Distribution

California