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Thrips of California 2012

Caliothrips fasciatus

Recognition data

Distinguishing features

Both sexes fully winged. Body and legs brown, tarsi yellow, also base and apex of tibiae; antennal segments III–V largely yellow; fore wing mainly dark, but pale in basal quarter, and with a broad sub-apical pale band. Antennae 8-segmented, III–IV with sensorium forked, VII–VIII elongate. Head and pronotum reticulate, with markings inside each reticle, without prominent setae. Metanotum reticulate, median setae wide apart. Metathoracic endofurca lyre-shaped and extending to mesothorax. Fore wing first vein with 2 setae on distal half, second vein with about 6 setae; postero-marginal cilia wavy. Tarsi 1-segmented. Abdominal tergites II–VIII with median pair of setae small, posterior margin with prominent craspedum that is toothed laterally; lateral thirds of tergites reticulate, reticles with internal markings. Sternites with 3 pairs of marginal setae arising anterior to broad craspedum.

Male sternites III–VII with small transversely oval pore plate.

Related and similar species

Twenty-one species are recognized currently in the genus Caliothrips, of which 10 are known from North America (Nakahara, 1991), mostly from the southeastern States. The other species are found widely around the world in tropical and subtropical countries, with none living in Europe. C. fasciatus is similar in color and sculpture to C. marginipennis, but the forewing color is very different.

Taxonomic data

Current valid name

Caliothrips fasciatus (Pergande)

Original name and synonyms

  • Heliothrips fasciatus Pergande, 1895: 391
  • Caliothrips woodworthi Daniel, 1904: 297

Family placement

Thripidae, Panchaetothripinae

Common names

Californian bean thrips

Biological data

Life history

Larvae and adults feed on leaves.

Host plants

Apparently associated primarily with Fabaceae, although adults seem to be dispersive and are found on many other plants.

Tospoviruses vectored

None

Crop damage

Recorded as damaging bean crops, but also a quarantine problem in navel oranges imported into Australia (Hoddle et al., 2006).

Distribution data

Area of origin

Western North America

Distribution

Western USA, into Mexico.