Scolothrips longicornis
Recognition data
Distinguishing features
Female macropterous; body colour yellow without grey markings; pronotal setae pale; antennal segments III–VIII largely yellow; fore wings pale with 2 small dark transverse bands of which the sub-basal band extends to the anterior margin of the wing; clavus also dark. Antennae 8-segmented, III & IV with long forked sensorium. Head wider than long, without sculpture between ocelli; 3 pairs of ocellar setae present, pair III very long and arising on anterior margins of ocellar triangle; postocular setae small, pair I close together behind hind ocelli. Pronotum with 6 pairs of very long setae; without paired postero-median discal setae. Metanotum with weak reticulate sculpture, campaniform sensilla absent, median setae arising at anterior margin. Meso- and metafurca with spinula. Fore wing first and second veins each with about 5–7 long setae; clavus with only 3 veinal setae, sub-terminal longer than terminal. Tergites with no sculpture medially, VIII without posteromarginal comb, X with no median longitudinal split. Sternites without discal setae, setae S1 on sternite VII arising in front of margin.
Related and similar species
In this essentially Old World genus 14 species are currently recognised (Mound, 2011), but S. longicornis cannot at present be distiguished satisfactorily from dilongicornis from China, and takahashii from Taiwan. Females identified as this species from California cannot be distinguished from females of longicornis from Europe, but the males from California are macropterous, whereas the available males from Europe are all hemimacropterous.
Taxonomic data
Current valid name
Scolothrips longicornis Priesner
Original name and synonyms
- Scolothrips longicornis Priesner, 1926: 239
Family placement
Thripidae, Thripinae
Biological data
Life history
Breeding on leaves
Host plants
Predator of Tetranychid mites.
Tospoviruses vectored
None
Crop damage
None
Distribution data
Area of origin
Not known, but presumably Old World
Distribution
California; widespread across Europe to Israel and Egypt.