Melanthripidae
Guides
Ankothrips
Ankothrips is a genus of thrips in the family Melanthripidae. It is recognized as the most ancient extant thrips genus, with fossil evidence indicating an origin in the Early Cretaceous period approximately 94 million years ago. The genus exhibits remarkable morphological stability over this timespan, with two fossil species described from French amber: Ankothrips dupeae from the Late Cretaceous and Ankothrips deploegi from the earliest Eocene. This long-term morphological conservatism is rare among insects.
Ankothrips yuccae
Ankothrips yuccae is a species of thrips in the family Melanthripidae, first described by Moulton in 1926. It is associated with Yucca whipplei as its host plant, on which it breeds without causing major damage. The species is found in California and is one of relatively few documented species in the genus Ankothrips.