Psilothrips

Hood, 1927

Species Guides

1

Psilothrips is a of thrips in the Thripidae, established by Hood in 1927. The genus belongs to the Anaphothrips genus-group and comprises five recognized with a disjunct distribution pattern between western North America and the Mediterranean. Two species possess unusually long pronotal posteroangular setae, a character that required revision of the generic . The genus includes species described from Iran, North America, and the Mediterranean region.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Psilothrips: //ˌsaɪloʊˈθrɪps//

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Identification

Members of Psilothrips can be distinguished from related in the Anaphothrips group by the presence of long pronotal posteroangular setae in two (P. pardalotus and P. zygophylli), necessitating careful examination of pronotal setal lengths. Generic identification relies on antennal segmentation (segments II-VIII), metanotal patterns, forewing setal arrangement, and abdominal tergite chaetotaxy including setae and campaniform . A key to five recognized species is available.

Distribution

Disjunct distribution between the west coast of North America and the Mediterranean region. recorded from Iran (P. zygophylli), with other species known from western North America and Mediterranean localities.

Host Associations

  • Zygophyllum - implied Inferred from epithet 'zygophylli'; no confirmed biological association documented

Similar Taxa

  • AnaphothripsPsilothrips belongs to the Anaphothrips -group and shares general body plan; distinguished by pronotal setal characters and specific antennal and wing features

More Details

Taxonomic revision

The generic was revised by Minaei & Mound (2015) to accommodate with long pronotal posteroangular setae, previously considered diagnostic of other . P. indicus Bhatti, 1967 was synonymized with P. bimaculatus (Priesner, 1932).

Biogeographic pattern

The disjunct western North America-Mediterranean distribution is shared with several other Thysanoptera and represents a notable biogeographic pattern in the order.

Sources and further reading