Hosts or Prey
Plant-feeding thrips, spider mites, and other small arthropods
Identification
The body is dark brown to black and about 1/16 to 1/10 inch (1.5–2.5 mm) long. Males when present are somewhat smaller than females. Wings when present are typically broad with rounded tips. However, some species have very short wings, lack wings, or only certain individuals within a species are winged.
A portion of the otherwise dark body in some species (e.g., A. albicinctus) has white or yellowish segments. The forewings in some species with relatively large wings have white to yellowish markings, such as cross bands or longitudinal bands that can help distinguish the species. However, several species have wings of similar appearance. Expert preparation of specimens and examination of microscopic characters may be needed to positively identify the species of Aeolothrips.
Life Cycle
Thrips hatch from an egg and develop through larval, prepupal (propupal), and pupal stages before maturing into adults. Males are unknown in some species and females in at least some species can reproduce parthenogenetically (without mating).
Eggs are laid singly in plant parts. After feeding as first and second instars, the mature larvae (prepupae) spin a silken cocoon in which they pupate. Pupae can occur attached to plant parts or the prepupae drop from plants or walk to the ground and pupate in topsoil.
Some species appear to have only one generation per year and are active only during late winter through early summer. Others (e.g., A. fasciatus) have multiple generations per year.
Habitat
Aeolothrips can be found wherever their prey occur. Many species are associated with certain host plants, such as occurring on grasses or trees and shrubs but uncommonly on both plant types. Others, such as A. fasciatus occur on a wide variety of plant types. Little is known about the particular prey and biology of some species.
Species
At least 22 Aeolothrips species occur in California. Aeolothrips fasciatus and A. kuwanaii appear to be the most common. All Aeolothrips are thought to be predaceous on small arthropods, such as plant-feeding thrips and spider mites. At least some species also feed on pollen and other arthropods, such as aphids and whiteflies.
More Information
- The Genus Aeolothrips Haliday in North America (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae), UC Davis, Hilgardia
- Thysanoptera Californica, Lucid
Scientific classification:
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Thysanoptera
- Family: Aeolothripidae
